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IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Lions to open Currie Cup against Sharks with confidence and unfinished business
Jaco Visagie will again lead a hungry Lions outfit in the Currie Cup, with the pain of last season's final defeat to the Sharks still fresh in memory. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The Lions will have to grapple with a dichotomy of sorts when they kick off their Currie Cup campaign this weekend: confident that they will do well, yet desperate that they must. It was heartbreak in the final of last year's competition when the Joburgers stumbled at the death against the Sharks — losing the title on the last play via a penalty. They face the defending champions in their opening match at Ellis Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), with the memory of that pain still whispering through the halls of Doornfontein. Recent shortcomings in the United Rugby Championship (URC) have not eased the pressure of expectation. And with nearly a decade having passed since their last piece of silverware, it's understandable that the team will privately acknowledge the importance of a positive outcome in the coming weeks. The Lions head into the tournament with a healthy mix of senior squad members and junior rookies. On the field, they will be led by the affable Jaco Visagie, while Mzwakhe Nkosi returns to direct proceedings from the touchline. There has been enough time, too, to consign last season's disappointment to the record books. There should, therefore, be more than enough belief and confidence to repeat their run to the final — and perhaps quash the growing exasperation of a support base hungry for success. The Lions are not deaf to those frustration. 'Being a Joburger myself, you do feel it,' Lions coach Nkosi admitted on Thursday. during a media briefing at Joburg Stadium. 'I think I was the first to feel it last October (after the final loss to the Sharks). There's a real desperation within the Lions Rugby Company — firstly, to bring some success and sustain it; and secondly, to get our hands on some silverware. 'We came really close last season, and hopefully we can build on that. The long and short of it is, only one team can win — whether that's in the URC with 18 teams or in the Currie Cup with eight. "It's a challenge, but myself included, we're all desperate for sustained success. And we have to give it our best shot.' Visagie was distraught after last year's final, but as he prepares to lead the team once again this season, he remains optimistic that another exciting Cup run lies ahead. And there is no reason to doubt that confidence. After all, the Lions racked up an impressive 437 points last season — 53 more than their nearest rivals, the Bulls. They played an enterprising brand of running rugby: fearless and ruthless. Most importantly, their squad for the tournament has a familiar look to it. 'We've got a very good team dynamic,' said Visagie. 'We almost have the same group this year, so the belief is there and the brotherhood is there.' 'We'll have the same approach as last year,' he added. 'The systems we put in place obviously worked. We lost only two matches — both to the Sharks — and those structures were solid. We just need to believe in them again.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Welsh rugby's ins and outs for 2025-26 season
Uncertainty remains over the future of Welsh professional rugby but four sides have been shaping their squads for the 2025-26 United Rugby Championship (URC).The season starts at the end of September and preparations are already well under way, with plenty of new recruits settling have arrived in turbulent times, with a big decision expected by October from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) on whether there will be a reduction in regional teams from four to three or even of debuts will have been made by then and BBC Sport Wales rounds up the summer moves that have been agreed. Cardiff In: Dynamic back-row forward Taine Basham has left Dragons and will hope to profit from a change of environment to get back to the form that saw him starring for Wales in the 2021 autumn George Nott, who can also slot in at blindside, has followed him to the Arms Park from Rodney have brought in Ioan Lloyd from Scarlets to tussle with his former Bristol team-mate Callum Sheedy for the 10 prop Javan Sebastian, who came through at Carmarthen, and fellow tight-head Sam Wainwright, who has won four caps for Wales, arrive from Edinburgh and the Scarlets prop Ioan Emanuel and scrum-half Ieuan Davies will spend the season on loan from Gabe Hamer-Webb, Regan Grace, Rey Lee-Lo, Tinus de Beer, Rhys Litterick, Efan Daniel, Seb Davies, Thomas Young, Gwilym Bradley, Mackenzie Martin. Dragons In: Dragons have comfortably been the busiest of the Welsh sides with 13 senior signings after a miserable season when they finished bottom of the URC with just one prop Dillon Lewis will hunt a Wales recall after coming home from Harlequins, while 2021 British and Irish Lions squad loose-head Wyn Jones also arrives from the Twickenham Seb Davies, flanker Thomas Young and fly-half Tinus de Beer make the short trip from Cardiff along with number eight Mackenzie Martin, who is initially on a season-long loan after struggling for game time at the Arms Under-20s captain and flanker Harry Beddall will step up to senior rugby after switching from African tight-head prop Robert Hunt arrives from Cheetahs and well-travelled lock Levi Douglas, who is Welsh-qualified and was at Biarritz last season, joins the options in the second hope is that Tongan backs Fetuli Paea and Fine Inisi will add firepower in midfield and on the wing after signing from Zebre Parma and Moana Jac Lloyd and utility back David Richards are rewarded for helping Newport to the Super Rygbi Cymru Jordan Williams, Ashton Hewitt, Harry Wilson, Scott Williams, Will Reed, Lloyd Evans, Josh Thomas, Dane Blacker, Josh Reynolds, Paula Latu, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Joe Davies, Dan Lydiate, Taine Basham, George Young. Ospreys In: The big change at Ospreys will be the eventual move to St Helen's but their statement signing was Ross destructive Wales back-rower, whose father Paul and uncle Richard played for Swansea RFC, has returned from France after leaving Dragons for Brive at the end of the 2022-23 Efan Daniel, who toured Australia with Wales last year, will hope to kick on after making the switch from signing of Australian lock Ryan Smith softens the blow of losing Adam Beard to Montpellier while scrum-half Harri Williams, who came through at Scarlets and played for Ampthill in the English Championship, arrives from club rugby in Owen Williams, Adam Beard, James Fender, Justin Tipuric, Tristan Davies. Scarlets In: Scarlets' bid to build on last season has been hit by the loss of back row Vaea Fifita but they have made some strong lock Jake Ball will add plenty of heft after reversing his his decision to retire; the 34-year-old has declared he returns from a spell in Japan in better physical homecoming of centre Joe Hawkins, whose international career was put on hold by a move from Ospreys to Exeter, adds to the midfield options and his ball-playing skills mean that he could also slot in at Dane Blacker returns to Llanelli after two seasons with Dragons and will battle for action with Gareth Davies and Archie Tristan Davies makes the short move from Ospreys while England Under-20s full-back Ioan Jones, who is Welsh-qualified, arrives from Steff Evans, Ioan Lloyd, Charlie Titcombe, Efan Jones, Sam Wainwright, Shaun Evans, Vaea Fifita, Alex Craig, Morgan Jones, Ed Scragg.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ackermann: All Bulls players will be heard, but they must earn their spots
Johan Ackermann says his first priority has been to get a grip of every Bulls player's strengths so they can establish the team's style, expectations and values. Johan Ackermann says every Bulls player will be heard under him. Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says every player, young and old, will have a voice under him. However, he will also not show favouritism to any player if they are not performing well or fitting in with the team values and culture. Speaking to the media during his first press conference as coach of the Pretoria union, at Loftus on Wednesday, former Lions boss Ackermann said he was a 'big believer' in hearing every player's opinion and working together to create a working team culture. Ackermann's appointment follows the departure of Jake White. Though he was contracted until 2027, White and the Bulls mutually agreed to part ways after the head coach allegedly fell out of favour with several players and coaches. It happened after the Bulls lost their third United Rugby Championship final, and White said he simply could not win the tournament with the squad he had. Ackermann to work with Bulls Ackermann said the first thing on his agenda would be to get to know his players and their strengths, so they could collectively establish their playing style, expectations and values. 'If we all agree on that – the style we want to play, the philosophy we want to [have], the kind of team we want to present out there, then we can build on that,' Ackermann said. The Bulls coach said every squad has its mix of young players, middle-ground players and senior players. He felt they all deserved a voice, otherwise players would feel left out and become unhappy. Ackermann said he had already discussed this with the group this week. But speaking with captain Ruan Nortjé and other senior players would have to wait until they returned from national duty. Ackermann takes charge of a burgeoning squad The Bulls have reached three URC finals in the last four years, while next season they will employ some strong new signings. These include Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard, former Springbok centre Jan Serfontein, and locks Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Marvin Orie. Stormers scrumhalf Paul de Wet joins the ranks too, while Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse returns from his sabbatical in Japan. 'Is there quality in the squad? Yes. The big thing is how they will fit into the plan,' Ackermann said. 'Sometimes a player excels because of certain reasons in a team and in a performance. You want everybody to be highly competitive, fighting for positions. But the reality is when it comes to selection there are certain things you look at in a player, and you have to make those tough calls.'
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Five players to watch as Junior Springboks gear up for Currie Cup challenge
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who starred for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, will be one of the players looking to make it at senior level should he get an extended run at the Lions in the Currie Cup this season. Image: Maurilio Boldrini / World Rugby After their success at the World Rugby U20 Championship, several Junior Springboks will get a well-deserved break, but then it is straight back into the Currie Cup at their respective unions. While the tournament, kicking off this weekend, is not as prestigious as in previous years, the developmental aspect of it could aid some of the U20 players taking part. This will be a perfect platform from which they can launch their senior careers, looking at cracking a nod at their United Rugby Championship (URC) franchises. We look at five players who must take the next step in their careers. Haashim Pead (Lions) The Junior Bok vice-captain could be the perfect understudy to Springbok Morné van den Berg when it comes to the URC. For that to happen, the Lions must back him in the Currie Cup and give him as many minutes as possible to find his feet. Pead has the pedigree to become great at the union, but it will all depend on how they utilise him. His instinctive plays will suit the Lions' game. He is quick behind the breakdown, and Pead has this ability to see space that few scrumhalves in South Africa possess. His kicking game will also benefit from senior rugby. Batho Hlekani (Sharks) Hopefully, the Durban side will have a proper plan and pathway for his special talent after showing off his all-around skills in the U20 Championship. Hlekani was the physical heartbeat of the Baby Boks. But he is not just a strong defender, although the opposition felt his hard hits right through the tournament, Hlekani is also a strong ball carrier. While he knows how to take the ball up into tackles with his direct plays, he also has a keen eye for gaps and a great turn of pace. Vusi Moyo (Sharks) Another young South African flyhalf with a good all-round game. He was running the attacking show of the Junior Boks alongside Pead and looked to be in total control when it came to spreading the ball down the backline or taking it up himself. Moyo can be physical too and doesn't back down from the dirty work in contact. He compliments that attacking gameplay well with his kicking and he looks so calm with the ball in hand or when putting it up in the sky. The real test will come when he plays against seasoned Currie Cup players. Cheswill Jooste (Bulls) He's been likened to Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe for his pace and stepping exploits during the tournament, and the way he scored tries, chased high kicks, and sidestepped opponents showed why he was one of the stars of the side. The Bulls' game will suit Jooste and the players around him should be able to get him into space whenever he gets a run for the side. He ran circles around his opposition in Italy, but must now step it up against some of his teammates who know him and other more experienced wings in the tournament. Riley Norton (Western Province) A leader of men and Western Province will have to look after their Junior Springbok-winning captain in the future. While they have some big names when it comes to the lock position, it will be crucial to get Norton involved in their campaign. Alongside Hlekani, Norton led the physical charge of the team throughout the tournament. However, his leadership qualities and how he kept his team calm and fighting stood out. He leads by example when it comes to the physical things on the field and a campaign against hardened senior players will stand him in good stead.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Coach Johan Ackermann upbeat about future as he takes over at the Bulls
As he prepares to take over the coaching reins at the Bulls, Johan Ackermann is confident the array of talent at Loftus has what it takes to finally win the United Rugby Championship (URC). The vastly experienced Ackermann is replacing Jake White, who led the Bulls to three URC finals and the knockout stages of the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. 'This team has talent and I believe we can play any style of rugby we want,' said Ackermann, who was part of the coaching staff for the Junior Springboks as they won the U20 Championships in Italy, with their final victory against the Baby Blacks on Saturday. 'We can play the traditional Bulls style and be physical and have good set pieces, but we also have the quality to attack and play all the spaces that the opposition give us. 'My philosophy is to play an exciting and attacking brand of rugby, be positive and score tries. And we have to acknowledge that what the Bulls have been doing must work. Welcome coach 🤝 — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 22, 2025 'They have beaten good sides and reached playoffs. I do feel there were moments where I would probably want to change a few things tactically, and once I get used to players and understand our strengths as a team, I can then bring my own flavour in. 'This has been a quality performing team for the last few years already, so that is a challenge for me — to make sure we keep performing with the quality of this squad.' Coaches of the leading South African franchises have a balancing act to perform ensuring their teams compete well in the URC and Champions Cup. 'There will be the challenge of managing this squad across various competitions, as is the norm for the modern-day coach. There will be the challenge of the always-high expectations on this team,' Ackermann said. 'The expectation is high and it brings a different pressure on this position. You can feel there's not a lot of room for error. But I can only be myself and enjoy this and through that we can keep that standard going.' The coach said he will first look internally to find a winning formula. 'If something is not quite clicking, then I normally look at the team's values. If as a team you've put out certain values at the beginning of the season and one of those is not going well, then it will reflect on the field. 'It's not about chasing the outcome or the result or the position on the log. It's about looking and seeing if there is something small we're not doing as a team. 'Finals are won on such small margins and I've experienced losing finals. It's very difficult to judge the outcome of a final from the outside if you haven't been involved in that week's preparation with the team for the game. 'Then from a tactical point of view, it's about going back to the principles of the game and seeing what we're missing. It's about what we control now — the next training session, the next scrum, the next breakdown.'
