United Rugby Championship

State of the URC: All to play for in final SA derbies

After a historic weekend for the Sharks in European cup action, the South African sides will renew hostilities in the last round of the league phase of the Vodacom URC.

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 06: Lukhanyo Am, captain of Hollywoodbets Sharks during the United Rugby Championship match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and Emirates Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium on January 06, 2024 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images)

Sharks can’t hide URC failures in Euro cup

A potential EPCR title win for the Sharks in London on Friday cannot detract from their dismal performances in the Vodacom URC this season, writes MARK KEOHANE.

Watch: Lethal Lions sink teeth into Warriors

Edwill van der Merwe and JC Pretorius carve the Glasgow Warriors apart in this collection of 10 stunning tries from the penultimate round of the 2023-24 Vodacom URC.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 18: PJ Botha of the Lions during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Glasgow Warriors at Emirates Airline Park on May 18, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Cash: We just stuck to the plan

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen commended the Lions for trusting the process in the face of adversity to pull off a big win against the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 4: John Plumtree, Head Coach of Hollywoodbets Sharks, looks on prior to the EPCR Challenge Cup Semi Final match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and ASM Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham Stoop on May 4, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Plum glum after ‘disappointing’ outing

Head coach John Plumtree is searching for positives as the remainder of the Sharks squad travelled to the UK on the back of a heavy loss to Cardiff in Durban on Saturday.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 18: Quan Hỏrn of the Lions during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Glasgow Warriors at Emirates Airline Park on May 18, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Six-try Lions feast on Warriors

Rabz Maxwane scored a brace of tries as a 14-man Lions outfit kept their Vodacom URC playoff hopes alive with a bonus-point win against the Glasgow Warriors in Joburg on Saturday.

(Photo by Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images)

SA’s unsung URC heroes invaluable assets

Whether they represent the Springboks or not, South African players have shot the lights out with their consistency and work rate in the Vodacom URC, writes MARK KEOHANE.

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 16: Cameron Hanekom of the Bulls during the Vodacom Bulls training session at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on May 16, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Jake: Bulls close to the perfect 80 minutes

Looking to shift gears at the business end of the season, Jake White wants the Vodacom Bulls to deliver a dominant performance from start to finish against Benetton on Saturday.

Goosen back to tackle Benetton

Johan Goosen has replaced flyhalf Chris Smith in the Vodacom Bulls lineup to face Benetton at Loftus Versfeld in the Vodacom URC on Saturday.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 21: Gianni Lombard of the Emirates Lions congratulates Marius Louw (c) of the Emirates Lions afterbscoring his try during the EPCR Challenge Cup match between Emirates Lions and Ospreys at Emirates Airlines Park on January 21, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images)

Lions to hunt Warriors with Lombard at 10

Gianni Lombard will start at flyhalf in one of four changes to the Lions starting lineup for the clash with the Glasgow Warriors in Johannesburg on Saturday.