Latest news with #SACup
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls sign Bok lock
The 32-year-old previously spent time at Loftus between 2014 and 2016 before stints with the Lions, Stormers and Ospreys. DOMONT, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 19: Marvin Orie of South Africa during the South Africa men's national rugby team training session at Stade des Fauvettes on September 19, 2023 in Domont, France. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images) The Vodacom Bulls have reportedly secured the services of a Springbok world champion and URC title-winning lock. According to Rapport, the Bulls are poised to bring lock Marvin Orie back to Pretoria as part of a sweeping recruitment drive ahead of the 2025 Currie Cup. Orie, who last played for the Boks at the 2023 World Cup, is set to join from French club Perpignan. The 32-year-old previously spent time at Loftus between 2014 and 2016 before stints with the Lions, Stormers and Ospreys. He is one of several names linked to the Bulls' squad revamp. Loose forward Jeandre Rudolph is also tipped to return to Loftus, having decided to leave the Cheetahs following their SA Cup campaign. Former Junior Bok, Western Province and Zebre lock Dylan de Leeuw (23) is reportedly another recruit who has been training with the Bulls for the past two months while recovering from injury. These additions reinforce a Bulls intake that reportedly includes the arrival of Handre Pollard, Jan Serfontein, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Paul de Wet in July. This story was first published on It is republished here with permission.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Former Bok, Bulls fullback gets Uganda coaching gig
One of SA rugby's up-and-coming coaching talents and well-travelled playmakers has joined the Uganda national team support staff. Former Springbok and Vodacom Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner has linked up with the Cranes as a backs coach, and will work closely with head coach Fred Mudoola and assistants Leonard Lubambula, Timothy Mudoola and Marvin Odongo. 'I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with the Uganda Rugby Cranes. I've been following the growth of rugby in Uganda, and I'm excited to contribute to that journey,' Kirchner said in an statement. 'The talent is real, and I'm looking forward to working with the players and coaching team to help unlock the next level.' ALSO: All Blacks legend to plot Lions downfall 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗦 Former Springbok and Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner joins the @RugbyCranes XVs technical team as backs coach ahead of the 2025 #RugbyAfricaCup and World Cup qualifiers.#UgandaRugby #RAC25UG #FeeltheAfricanSpirit — Uganda Rugby Union (@UgandaRugby) May 26, 2025 Kirchner replaced Anton Moolman as head coach of the SWD Eagles in January 2024, having previously worked as an assistant coach at the Currie Cup First Division side, but recently parted ways with the Outeniqua-based outfit after a disappointing SA Cup campaign. The 40-year-old played 31 Tests, as well as making almost 90 appearances for Irish giants Leinster after representing Griquas and the Bulls. He also represented Welsh club Dragons and Bristol Bears in England before retiring from professional rugby in 2018. The post Former Bok gets Uganda coaching gig appeared first on SA Rugby Magazine.
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Pumas dethrone Griquas to capture SA Cup in Mbombela final
On Saturday they repeated that feat in convincing style to capture the SA Cup title on home soil. The Pumas became the second team – after Griquas in the inaugural competition last year – to finish the campaign unbeaten after they dealt the men from the Northern Cape their first defeat in the competition in the league phase a few weeks ago. The hosts worked hard for a 19-7 advantage at half time and kicked on the second half for a deserved win. It is happy days in Nelspruit after the Pumas captured their first SA Cup title by beating last year's champions, Griquas, 39-14 in the final at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening. The Airlink Pumas take down the Suzuki Griquas to lift the 2025 #SACup 🏆 The match got off to a bad start for Griquas when their front ranker Cebo Dlamini was red carded for a head-on collision in the seventh minute, which meant they had to play the next 20 minutes with 14 men. In a sign of what was to come, the Pumas scored their first try barely a minute later, when hooker Eddie Swart went over at the back of a strong maul, which was converted by Danrich Visagie. Predictably, the men from Mpumalanga proceeded to dominate both possession and territory, leaving the defending champions to fend off wave after wave of attack from the rampant home side. The Pumas used their forward dominance to set up two good tries for midfielder Sango Xamlashe to take the score to 19-0 with a quarter of the opening half remaining. For his first effort, the outside centre stepped his way inside two defenders to score near the posts, and he was on the receiving end of a looping skip pass to go over near the corner for his second five-pointer. Griquas tried their best to stay in the contest and they were rewarded with a rather fortunate try when speedster Gurshwin Wehr intercepted a pass in his 22 to run in a long-distance try to make the half-time score 19-7. The dependable Visagie slotted a penalty goal before he converted No 8 Willie Engelbrecht's intercept try to stretch the home team's advantage to 29-7 shortly after the restart for the second half. Another successful penalty goal by Visagie took the score to 32-7 before Mnombo Zwelendaba scored Griquas' second try to bring the deficit down to 32-14. But the Pumas had the last laugh when replacement front ranker Dewald Maritz forced his way over the try line for their second try of the second half to all but secure them the SA Cup title
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Pumas dethrone Griquas to capture SA Cup
The match got off to a bad start for Suzuki Griquas when their front ranker Cebo Dlamini was red carded for a head-on collision in the seventh minute. The Pumas became the second team – after Griquas in the inaugural competition last year – to finish the campaign unbeaten after they dealt the men from the Northern Cape their first defeat in the competition in the league phase a few weeks ago, and on Saturday they repeated that feat in convincing style to capture the SA Cup title on home soil. The match got off to a bad start for Suzuki Griquas when their front ranker Cebo Dlamini was red carded for a head-on collision in the seventh minute, which meant they had to play the next 20 minutes with 14 men. In a sign of what was to come, the Airlink Pumas scored their first try barely a minute later, when hooker Eddie Swart went over at the back of a strong maul, which was converted by Danrich Visagie. Predictably, the men from Mpumalanga then proceeded to dominate both possession and territory, leaving the defending champions to fend off wave after wave of attack from the rampant home side. The Pumas used their forward dominance to set up two good tries for midfielder Sango Xamlashe to take the score to 19-0 with a quarter of the opening half remaining. For his first effort, the outside centre stepped his way inside two defenders to score near the posts, and he was on the receiving end of a looping skip pass to go over near the corner for his second five-pointer. Griquas tried their best to stay in the contest and they were rewarded with a rather fortunate try when speedster Gurshwin Wehr intercepted a pass to run in a long distance try to make the halftime score 19-7. The dependable Visagie slotted a penalty goal before he converted No 8 Willie Engelbrecht's intercept try to stretch the home team's advantage to 29-7 shortly after the restart for the second half. Another successful penalty goal by Visagie took the score to 32-7 before Mnombo Zwelendaba scored Griquas' second try to bring the deficit down to 32-14. But the Airlink Pumas had the last laugh when replacement front ranker Dewald Maritz forced his way over the try line for their second try of the second half to all but secure them the SA Cup title. Scorers: Airlink Pumas 39 (19) – Tries: Sango Xamlashe (2), Eddie Swart, Willie Engelbrecht, Dewald Maritz. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (4). Penalty goals: Visagie (2). Suzuki Griquas 14 (7) – Tries: Gurswhin Wehr, Mnombo Zwelendaba. Conversions: George Whitehead (2).
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Intensity wins: Pumas conquer Griquas in Mbombela
The SA Cup has a new title holder, and their home ground is Mbombela Stadium. The Airlink Pumas put on a brilliant display of dominant rugby to defeat the Suzuki Griquas 39-14 and were crowned the 2025 SA Cup champions tonight. The home team came out snorting from the kick-off and executed a game plan of speed, power and precision. This was complemented by excellent defence. The foundation of the Pumas' victory was their powerful scrum, which earned them numerous scrum penalties. The Griquas played their hearts out but were outclassed in every aspect of the game. They could not cope with the Pumas' intensity and committed too many unforced errors. The Pumas were gifted possession. The home team was also ruthless at the breakdowns and won numerous turnovers. It was a sublime team effort from the Mpumalanga side. The Griquas were in trouble within five minutes of the start. Cebo Dlamini was red carded for a dangerous tackle and they would play the rest of the match with 14 men. The Pumas' first try came in the sixth minute. A penalty was punted into touch on the Griquas' five-metre line and Eduan Swart scored from the resulting maul. Danrich Visagie slotted the conversion. Shortly after the restart, the Pumas again had an attacking line-out from a penalty into touch. The Pumas won their line-out and the ball went down the backline, with Sango Xamlashe scoring a try that was not converted. ALSO READ: Pumas and Griquas face each other in final battle of 2025 SA Cup war Xamlashe scored again in the 24th minute from the same scenario, using his speed to carve a gap through the Griquas' defence. Visagie added the two points. Three minutes before half-time Griquas finally put points on the board. Gurshwin Wehr intercepted a pass on his own five-metre line and sprinted the length of the field to score a try. George Whitehead converted. The half-time score was 19-7 to the home team. The Pumas continued to dominate in the second half. Two Visagie penalty kicks put the Mpumalanga team up 25-7 by the 52nd minute. Then Willie Engelbrecht intercepted a pass on his own 10-metre line and ran through untouched to score a try. Visagie kicked the conversion. The Griquas hit back when Mnombo Zwelendaba caught the Pumas napping, tapped a penalty and scored the try. Whitehead kicked the conversion. ALSO READ: IN PHOTOS: Pumas on fire at captain's practice The Pumas were soon back on attack in the Griquas 22-metre area, and after a period of sustained pressure, Dewald Maritz claimed a try. Visagie nailed the conversion. The Griquas threw everything at the Pumas in the final ten minutes of the match, but the home team's defence held. The new champions did their fans proud. They simply did not take the foot of the accelerator, and this sustained level of play gave them front-foot possession. It was 80 minutes of attrition that the visitors could not combat. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
