English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
Bok props dominate Top 10 list
Thomas du Toit and Ox Nché are among the four Springboks who have been named in a ranking of the top 10 props in the world currently playing. newsindata.com
Former Bath powerhouse Du Toit has been ranked No 1 by Planet Rugby, praised for his ability to play on both sides of the front row, as well as his scrummaging and impact off the bench.
MORE: Beast calls it 3-1 to Boks
Nché is named second, with the Sharks heavyweight described as the best out-and-out loosehead in the world. He has become synonymous with the South African scrum and was nominated for the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
Gerhard Steenekamp is sixth on the list, with Planet Rugby highlighting his work rate and combination with Bulls teammate Wilco Louw.
COLUMN: Brannas is Rassie’s ‘Mr Expendable’
Louw placed eighth after another strong season with the Bulls, who reached the URC final for the third successive year in 2026. The Stormers-bound scrum anchor has also shown he can play the full 80 minutes when required.
Ben Tameifuna is ranked 10th, followed by Danilo Fischetti at nine, Joe Heyes at seven, Jean-Baptiste Gros at five, Ethan de Groot at four and Ellis Genge at three.
Planet Rugby’s Top 10 props in the world
10. Ben Tameifuna (Tonga)
9. Danilo Fischetti (Italy)
8. Wilco Louw (South Africa)
7. Joe Heyes (England)
6. Gerhard Steenekamp (South Africa)
5. Jean-Baptiste Gros (France)
4. Ethan de Groot (New Zealand)
3. Ellis Genge (England)
2. Ox Nché (South Africa)
1. Thomas du Toit (South Africa)
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Bok props dominate Top 10 list appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Pirates’ Ouaddou says Bafana stars must ‘come to the party’
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdselam Ouaddou says many of his Bafana Bafana players need to step up or he will have to consider resting them until they have recovered fully from their exertions at the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals.
Pirates’ Ouaddou – ‘We have been playing one or two men down’
The Buccaneers head coach was clearly not happy with the performance of the likes of Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis and Kamogelo Sebelebele in the 1-1 Betway Premiership draw with AmaZulu on Wednesday evening.
“My worry is when I am going to fully recover the international players,” said Ouaddou at the post match press conference.
“Today we had a fantastic performance from (Nkosinathi) Sibisi. He played his role. And Sipho Chaine played his role. But since the beginning of the season we have been playing one or two men down.
“I hope soon it is possible (to recover these players), because it is an emergency. Every point is important … and we need quickly for our international players to land on our planet.
“The USA is finished and we need them quickly to be part of the team spirit here and the expectations of the fans. Football is difficult, if we wait until December for them to get fit, it will be late. We really need them to come to the party.”
‘Players are not robots’
Ouaddou does have empathy with the exertions of his Bafana players.
“We are not the only club. There are clubs in Europe with the same problems with internationals,” he added.
“Some are tired physically and some are tired mentally. We have increased the teams in the World Cup to 48 and now we want 64. Players are not robots, they need to rest. So it is not a surprise but we have to find a solution. Or we have to give them rest and have them ready in October.
“Only Sibisi and Sipho are doing their job and I want to be straight with them. At a club like Pirates the fans are waiting and the club is waiting and you don’t have time.”
Pirates’ next game is a Premiership clash with Chippa United on Sunday at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.
Bulls get Bok boost for All Blacks clash
Flyhalf Curwin Bosch is among four Springboks named in the Vodacom Bulls starting XV for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Fullback Willie le Roux, scrumhalf Embrose Papier and flank Marcell Coetzee also bring valuable experience to Johan Ackermann’s side.
One of the biggest talking points is the return of Hanro Liebenberg. The hard-working loose forward is back in Pretoria after a successful stint with the Leicester Tigers and slots straight into the starting XV.
There is also considerable interest around Bosch, who returns to South Africa after two years in France. The gifted flyhalf has built a reputation as one of the game’s most dangerous attacking playmakers and prolific point scorers.
BOSCH: My best is good enough for Boks
Another new arrival, former Sharks and Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams, will wear the No 14 jersey, with ex-Sharks fullback Hakeem Kunene on the bench.
The selection also rewards dynamic No 8 Jeandré Rudolph, one of the standout performers from the Bulls’ 2025-26 Vodacom URC campaign.
History suggests the hosts’ challenge on Saturday will be a formidable one.
In four previous meetings dating back to 1949, the All Blacks have won three. The one exception remains one of the most celebrated victories in South African provincial rugby history, when Northern Transvaal defeated New Zealand 29-27 in August 1976, almost exactly 50 years ago.
COETZEE: Bulls have to be clinical
BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Photo: Vodacom Bulls
The post Bulls get Bok boost for All Blacks clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
ALG : Quand 5 000 euros de plus deviennent un exploit ( Ahmed Bessol)
Info ou intox ? À lire certaines informations qui circulent, le marché des transferts algérien est décidément devenu un monde à part. Et le feuilleton Adam Ounas au MC Alger en fournit un nouvel épisode pour le moins savoureux. Après une première offre de 75 000 euros mensuels, jugée insuffisante puisque le clan du joueur aurait demandé autour de 100 000 euros, le Mouloudia aurait décidé de… faire un effort supplémentaire. Tenez-vous bien : 5 000 euros de plus !
La nouvelle proposition atteindrait ainsi 80 000 euros par mois, soit près de 960 000 euros par an, avant même de parler des primes et autres avantages éventuels. Le tout serait facilité par un «montage financier» auquel les sponsors auraient été associés. Voilà donc présenté comme une preuve de détermination ce qui ressemble surtout à une course au toujours-plus. On se demande alors si le football algérien a encore des limites ?
Il faudra naturellement attendre la signature éventuelle du contrat pour savoir si cette information est exacte. Mais si elle venait à se confirmer, elle poserait une question autrement plus sérieuse que celle de savoir si Adam Ounas acceptera ou non les 80 000 euros. Jusqu’où peut-on aller ? Car pendant que l’on se félicite de trouver quelques milliers d’euros supplémentaires pour convaincre un joueur, le football algérien continue de fonctionner avec une économie qui mérite, elle aussi, un sérieux coup de sifflet.
Il fut un temps où l’on cherchait à dégraisser le mammouth. Dans le football algérien, on semble parfois avoir choisi la méthode inverse : on nourrit le mammouth, puis on cherche des sponsors pour lui trouver une nouvelle portion. Et voilà comment une augmentation de 5 000 euros par mois devient une «ultime proposition», presque un acte héroïque de gestion.
Le plus étonnant est peut-être ailleurs. Ce genre d’information est généralement présenté sans la moindre interrogation sur la logique économique de l’opération. On annonce le montant, on souligne l’effort du club, on met le joueur devant ses responsabilités et, surtout, on transforme une négociation salariale en feuilleton à suspense. Le joueur hésite. Le club augmente. Les sponsors accompagnent. Les médias applaudissent. Et le football, lui, continue de payer.
Doit-on conclure qu’Il existe une complicité Manager-média ? C’est ici que le malaise commence. Car à force de présenter chaque nouvelle offre comme un événement, certains récits donnent parfois l’impression que la communication du manager et celle de certains médias ne font plus qu’une. Une information lancée, une offre revalorisée, un montant dévoilé, puis un nouveau chapitre : «désormais, la balle est dans le camp du joueur». Pourquoi pas.
Mais il faudrait alors aussi poser la question inverse : qui a intérêt à ce que cette histoire soit racontée de cette manière ? Si Ounas signe, ce sera une opération réussie. S’il ne signe pas, on pourra toujours expliquer que le club aura « tout tenté ». Dans les deux cas, le feuilleton aura fait son travail. Et si l’on parlait enfin de gestion ? Le problème n’est évidemment pas Adam Ounas. Ni même le MC Alger, qui
est libre de négocier selon ses moyens et ses objectifs.
Le problème est cette banalisation de sommes qui, pour un joueur, peuvent sembler extraordinaires mais qui, rapportées à l’économie réelle du football algérien, devraient au minimum susciter quelques questions. Dans un football qui aurait bien besoin de dégraisser son mammouth, il serait peut-être temps de distinguer l’investissement sportif de la surenchère médiatique.
– AHMED BESSOL
L’article ALG : Quand 5 000 euros de plus deviennent un exploit ( Ahmed Bessol) est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.
Carling Currie Cup Premier Division 2026: Race for playoff qualification heats up – see all fixtures
With only three rounds remaining before the semi-finals, every log point is becoming increasingly valuable in the race for playoff qualification in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division 2026. This coming weekend sees two matches staged on Friday and one each on Saturday and Sunday.
The Fidelity ADT Lions and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers kick off the round-five action when they meet from 15h00 at Wits University on Friday. That clash is followed by the meeting in Kimberley between log leaders Suzuki Griquas and the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, starting at 17h05.
The Airlink Pumas welcome the DHL Stormers XXIII to the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday for their 17h00 game, and the round’s action concludes on Sunday when the Vodacom Bulls XV host second-placed Toyota Cheetahs in a 15h00 kick-off at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The weekend’s opening fixture between the Fidelity ADT Lions and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Wits on Friday afternoon carries enormous significance for two teams still very much in the semi-final race. The Gautengers occupy third place on the log with 12 points after winning two of their opening four matches, while Boland are fifth on 11 points after a promising start to the campaign.
Last weekend’s results, however, told contrasting stories. The Lions suffered a 31-19 defeat to Griquas in Kimberley, while the Kavaliers were frustrated by a determined Sharks XV outfit, going down 19-12 in Durban.
The men from Joburg remain one of the competition’s most potent attacking teams, having scored 140 points and 20 tries in four matches, the highest points tally in the competition. Earlier victories over the Pumas (52-29) and Bulls XV (42-19) highlighted their attacking capability at home.
Boland, meanwhile, have been one of the strong outfits of the season, opening their campaign with victories over the Bulls XV and Stormers XXIII before narrowly losing to the Pumas and Sharks XV.
The previous two meetings between the sides are even, with the Lions beating the Kavaliers by 67-19 in one of the two semi-finals last September in response to the Bolanders’ 29-10 win a month earlier in Wellington.
Coincidentally, both these teams have also each won two of their respective five previous games in all competitions, which means we are in for a very competitive match in Joburg on Friday afternoon.
Next up is the late afternoon match between Suzuki Griquas and the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Kimberley, at 17h05.
The defending champions continue to gather momentum, moving to the top of the standings after dispatching the Lions 31-19 in Kimberley last week, maintaining their impressive home form and improving their record to three wins from four matches.
The Sharks, meanwhile, revived their playoff hopes with a hard-fought 19-12 victory over the Kavaliers and now sit seventh, just two points outside the top four.
The men from the Northern Cape have built their success on a potent balance between attack and defence. They top the standings, have scored 130 points scored and boast notable wins over the Bulls XV, Cheetahs and Lions. Their only setback came in the opening round against the Stormers XXIII.
The Durbanites have shown significant improvement after opening with an away win over the Pumas, followed by defeats against the Cheetahs and Stormers XXIII, before bouncing back last week against Boland.
In terms of the head-to-head between these sides, it is the men from Kimberley who have a 3-2 advantage over a five-game stretch in this competition, while they are also 4-3 to the good in terms of their current form over seven games overall, including a three-game winning streak.
The Airlink Pumas return home for their Saturday encounter with the DHL Stormers XXIII, knowing victory could propel them firmly into the top four. The team from Mpumalanga produced one of the results of the season last weekend when they edged the Bulls XV 33-31 at Loftus, securing an important away win that lifted them to fourth on the log.
The Stormers XXIII, in contrast, suffered a narrow 31-26 defeat to the Cheetahs despite a spirited performance at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
After an inconsistent opening month, the Pumas appear to be finding rhythm. Since losing to the Lions in round two, they have recorded consecutive victories against Boland and the Bulls XV.
The Capetonians have shown flashes of quality throughout the tournament. They began by defeating Griquas and later overcame the Sharks XV, but heavy defeats to the Kavaliers and the recent loss to the Free Staters have left them sixth on the standings.
In head-to-head encounters, the Cape side lead 3-2 over five games between them, while their respective form guides over the same number of games also favour the Stormers XXIII by the same margin.
The final match of the round on Sunday sees a rejuvenated Toyota Cheetahs side travel to Pretoria to face a Vodacom Bulls XV team still searching for their first victory of the season.
The Free Staters climbed to second place on the standings, level on points with Griquas, after their dramatic 31-26 victory over the Stormers XXIII in Cape Town, while the Bulls XV remain rooted to the bottom of the table after their heartbreaking 33-31 loss to the Pumas last weekend.
The Bloemfontein outfit have quietly assembled one of the strongest form guides in the competition. Since their opening-round victory over the Lions, they have also beaten the Sharks XV and Stormers XXIII, with their only defeat coming in a narrow 24-21 contest away to Griquas. Their attack has produced 124 points and 19 tries in four matches, illustrating why many view them as genuine title contenders.
While the men from Pretoria are winless, their performances have arguably been more competitive than the standings suggest. They pushed both the Pumas and Cheetahs hard and were in contention deep into several matches.
The two sides are even at two wins each, plus a draw, over their last five Carling Currie Cup outings, and another even and tightly contested encounter is expected. On current form, the Bulls XV have lost four of their last five games, while the Cheetahs have managed to win three games during this period.
Match information:
Fidelity ADT Lions v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Date: Friday, 14 August 2026
Venue: Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
TV: SuperSport
Suzuki Griquas v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV
Date: Friday, 14 August 2026
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Kick-off: 17h05
Referee: Griffin Colby
TV: SuperSport
Airlink Pumas v DHL Stormers XXIII
Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 17h00
Referee: Christopher Allison
TV: SuperSport
Vodacom Bulls XV v Toyota Cheetahs
Date: Sunday, 16 August 2026
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Jonathan Lottering
TV: SuperSport
SOURCE: SA RUGBY
The post Carling Currie Cup Premier Division 2026: Race for playoff qualification heats up – see all fixtures appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.