Saffas abroad

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Andre Esterhuizen of Harlequins is tackled by Dan Kelly of Leicester Tigers during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Leicester Tigers and Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on May 06, 2023 in Leicester, England.

Saffas Abroad: Boks hit the ground running

Several Springboks returned to action in the Premiership and French Top 14 after celebrating the World Cup win.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 28: Jesse Kriel of South Africa with Handre Pollard of South Africa and Jasper Wiese of South Africa during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France.

Bok champs return after ‘crazy’ week

Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese have been thrown straight back into the action for Leicester Tigers after what the Springbok flyhalf calls a ‘chaotic’ week of World Cup celebrations.

DOMONT, FRANCE - OCTOBER 25: Marvin Orie of South Africa during the South Africa men's national rugby team training session at Stade des Fauvettes on October 25, 2023 in Domont, France.

Saffas Abroad: Bok lock aids French upset

A Springbok lock who skipped the World Cup trophy tour to help his struggling club made an immediate impact in the Top 14, while Tyrone Green scored a stunning try in the Premiership.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 28: Vincent Koch of South Africa with Malcolm Marx of South Africa during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France.

Marx to miss Japanese season

Malcolm Marx will miss the upcoming Japanese club rugby season because of an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, his team Kubota Spears said on Monday.

SALFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Sam James of Sale Sharks celebrates scoring their side's third try with teammate Robert du Preez during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Sale Sharks and Northampton Saints at AJ Bell Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Salford, England.

Saffas Abroad: Bok flyhalf stars in Premiership

Robert du Preez tallied 14 points in the Premiership, while Dillyn Leyds suffered defeat in the Top 14, as the early parts of the northern hemisphere seasons continued.

Bok hooker leaves Sharks

Akker van der Merwe is set to return to South Africa after the Springbok hooker was granted an early release from his contract with English Premiership club Sale Sharks.

Bok stars as La Rochelle book final spot

Dillyn Leyds scored as La Rochelle beat Bordeaux-Begles in the semi-finals of the Top 14 on Saturday and will face Toulouse in the final next week.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 27: Munster celebrate after winning the Grand Final during the United Rugby Championship final match between DHL Stormers and Munster at DHL Stadium on May 27, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa

SA must overcome ‘underdogs’ dependency

South Africans must embrace the global impact made by the country’s best players in top leagues abroad and surrender the safety blanket of the underdogs tag, writes MARK KEOHANE.

‘SA rugby stars a beacon of light’

The likes of Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese and master SA strategist Franco Smith are brilliantly showcasing the country’s sparkling talent abroad, writes MARK KEOHANE.