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INTERVIEW: Reds coach Brad Thorn feels the standard of Super Rugby AU teams will soon be on par with those in New Zealand.

RESCHEDULED ROSTER: Defending champions Saracens are away at Irish giants Leinster in the opening game of the 2019/20 European Champions Cup play-offs.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has admitted he cannot predict the impact of the coronavirus on his England team, downplaying the significance of his own pay cut at a time of huge uncertainty for global rugby.

REACTION: South African Rugby President Mark Alexander has made an astonishing admission in the wake of a Black Lives Matter 'uprising' within the domestic game.

TRANSFER NEWS: Ireland flyhalf Noel Reid has signed a two-year contract with Agen a week after leaving Leicester Tigers having rejected a salary amendment.

REACTION: Hopes for a cross-code blockbuster between the All Blacks and Australia's Kangaroos faded Thursday.

CONTRACT NEWS: Saracens may already have been relegated, but they continue to retain the services of some of their most high-profile players.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Queensland Reds have made three changes to their starting side for Friday’s clash against the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force have revealed their team to face the Reds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallaby Tom Banks has been named to start for the Brumbies in their blockbuster showdown against arch-rivals the NSW Waratahs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have revealed their team to face the Blues in a blockbuster clash.

Sir Ian McGeechan embodies what it means to represent the British & Irish Lions, having represented the team on two tours, while coaching them on five occasions.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs will take on the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium this Saturday in Round 3 of Super Rugby AU.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues have revealed their team to face the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

NEWS: Southern Hemisphere governing body SANZAAR announced plans Thursday to hold this year's Rugby Championship in New Zealand.

RETURN OF A STALWART: When Greg Holmes left the Queensland Reds in 2015, the prop never envisaged he'd have to face a team he'd formed a lifelong bond with.

SPOTLIGHT: Forty-nine South African rugby coaches, former players and administrators expressed their support for Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and the Black Lives Matter movement.

NEWS: Seven players have tested positive for coronavirus in the latest round of across the league testing ahead of next month’s planned restart of the 2019/20 Premiership season.

NEWS: Saracens announced that England international Elliot Daly has committed his long-term future to the club.

NEWS: South African teams and their players will take an important step next week in their bid to get rugby going again in South Africa.

NEWS: Three Sharks players have tested positive for the COVID-19 Conrovirus.

NEWS: SA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions have confirmed the schedule for the 2021 tour to South Africa.

NEWS: World Rugby are on the lookout for a new referees chief.

The Blues have released an epic training video that sees Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter and Rieko Ioane compete in a kicking competition for the ultimate prize of free coffee for a week - made by the losers of course.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions continue to bolster their side with another Bulls player.

SPOTLIGHT: The New Zealand public and wider global rugby community may have fallen in love with the concept of Super Rugby Aotearoa, but two of the competition’s star players have described the competition as unsustainable.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: European clubs are struggling to compete with the power of Japan in the transfer market.

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Rugby is not in a charitable mood as they get ready to confirm their proposed model for a Trans-Tasman competition.

TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester have confirmed the signing of Argentine lock Matias Alemanno as they bid to fill the void left by a several South Africans including head coach Johan Ackermann.

NEWS: An Italian international has brought the curtain down on his playing career.

NEWS: Another England star pledged his future to Saracens despite their impending relegation to the second-tier Championship for salary cap breaches.

BATTLE OF THE AGES: There have been a couple of ideas going around on how SA Rugby can formulate rugby matches involving the country's best talent later this year.

NEWS: It seems like the Premiership's plan to complete their 2019/20 season is in full swing.

NEWS: Otere Black’s playmaking partnership with Beauden Barrett may have failed to fire for the Blues against the Crusaders on Saturday, but that hasn’t dampened the flyhalf’s outlook on his backline dynamic with the All Blacks star.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions have bolstered their backline stocks once again.

NEWS: Irish rugby players earning more than 25 000 euros per year have agreed to a 10 percent salary reduction for the second half of 2020.

SPOTLIGHT: Queensland skipper Liam Wright has backed calls by his Rebels opposite Matt Toomua for changes to decide Super Rugby AU extra time

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hulking prop Pone Fa'amausili thanks his Rugby League roots for the barnstorming runs which are making him a cult figure at the Melbourne Rebels.

Sergio Parisse, former Italy captain and one of the best No.8s the game has ever seen, has revealed that there is nothing he would change about his international career.

NEWS: The Waratahs have locked in the location of their final two home games in Super Rugby AU, while also confirming a fixture swap with the Melbourne Rebels in Round Four.

WATCH as World Cup-winning Springbok Schalk Brits is another player who urges South Africa to align with the Northern Hemisphere.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Western Force have bolstered their backline with an All Black.

SPOTLIGHT: Munster has confirmed that Springbok Damian de Allende is on track to feature for the province in next month’s Pro14 fixtures.

NEWS: A proposed takeover of second-tier club Beziers by an unknown UAE-based investor has failed after French rugby's financial watchdog (DNACG) refused to validate the deal on Monday.

TRANSFER NEWS: England centre Manu Tuilagi has confirmed his next career move.

NEWS: One of South Africa's World Cup-winning Springbok players had to undergo an emergency appendectomy at the weekend.

NEWS: Two Western Province players have tested positive for COVID-19.

SPOTLIGHT: Given the delay in return to training, not only is South Africa continuing to lose ground to New Zealand and Australia, an in-house competition seems most likely.

WATCH as we bring two videos - one from New Zealand and one from Australia - which shows the difference in class of the competitions between the two countries.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions have once again raided their northern neighbours, the Bulls, for resources.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA, ROUND FIVE: Alex McLeod looks at the five top performers from round five of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

There is a version of rugby played in Italy where brawls and off-the-ball scuffles are part and parcel of the game.

REACTION: It is business as usual at Ellis Park, despite four positive cases for COVID-19 at the Lions.

TRANSFER NEWS: Gloucester have confirmed the signing of giant prop Logovi’i Mulipola who joins the Cherry and Whites on a short-term deal.

SPOTLIGHT: The struggles of Queensland's NRL sides have not gone unnoticed by the state's Super Rugby team, who have spied a chance to win over their own long-suffering fans and perhaps attract a few more to the 15-man code.

WATCH as we bring you all the highlights from week two of the Super Rugby AU and week five of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Jaguares lost another big name.

Damian McKenzie had it all as a schoolboy rugby player, all of which made him a five-star flyhalf prospect for Christ’s College in Christchurch.

NEWS: Former England fullback Nick Abendanon has signed a two-year deal with second-tier Vannes three months after saying he was retiring, the French club said.

REACTION: Steve Hansen says New Zealand Rugby should not crumble under Australia's pressure.

REACTION: The Western Force say their strong Super Rugby AU performance against the Waratahs wasn't about proving a point.

SPOTLIGHT: The Waratahs coach says it's unfair to compare his team's Super Rugby AU match with the enthralling Super Rugby Aotearoa showdown also played on Saturday.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA REPORT: The Hurricanes recorded a crucial 17-11 win over the Highlanders in their Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Five match in Wellington on Sunday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Five encounter between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders in Wellington.

TRANSFER NEWS: Sale Sharks have reportedly won the race to sign England centre Manu Tuilagi.

SPOTLIGHT: Kanaloa Hawaii could be one of the teams to join the possible Trans-Tasman Super Rugby tournament in 2021.

TRANSFER NEWS: Springboks centre Lionel Mapoe has signed a one-year contract with French club Nice.

Crusaders flyhalf Richie Mo’unga produced a moment of magic which helped turn the tide during his team's blockbuster clash against the Blues.

SUPER RUGBY AU REPORT: The Waratahs overturned a 14-point deficit to beat a plucky Western Force side 23-14 in Sydney on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: A strong performance in the final 20 minutes saw the Crusaders beat the Blues 26-15 in a thrilling top-of-the-table game in Christchurch on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Two encounter between the Waratahs and Western Force in Sydney.

REACTION: An innovation to inject extra life into Australian Super Rugby got the thumbs up from players and coaches

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Five encounter between the Crusaders and the Blues in Christchurch.

NEWS: The English Premiership will restart on August 14 and the opening match will be a cracker.

REACTION: A bit of a wet one - half happy, half not happy. That, in a nutshell, sums up the post-match reaction after the Melbourne Rebels and Reds played out a Super Rugby AU stalemate.

NEWS: Premiership grounds such as The Rec, Welford Road and Kingsholm will all be in use for next month’s Premiership restart following a five-month layoff.

MATCH REPORT: The Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels have played out an 18-18 draw in professional rugby's historic first golden-point extra-time finish.

NEWS: There will be no way back at Welford Road for England international.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round Two encounter between the Rebels and Reds in Sydney.

REACTION: Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has hit back at New Zealand Rugby.

It's been a long time since the rugby world was this excited about a Crusaders-Blues encounter and many Crusaders fans still remember what Carlos Spencer did to them back in 2004.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Highlanders have stayed largely with the team that has played in the first three matches of Super Rugby Aotearoa for their upcoming clash against the Hurricanes.

IN CONVERSATION WITH JAKE WHITE: It has been a decade since the Bulls last won any first-class silverware and they have become the butt of many jokes.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Hurricanes have named their team to face the Highlanders in Round Five of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

BIG NORTH-SOUTH DERBY: Some rugby rivalries are just bigger than most. In South Africa in is Cape Town versus Pretoria. In New Zealand it is Christchurch against Auckland.

OPINION: A look at five of the most intriguing signings made by Premiership clubs in 2020.

NEWS: Saracens have held onto one of their stars despite being demoted from the Premiership for repeated salary cap breaches and move north of the border.

REACTION: The much-publicised Super Rugby 'partnership' between New Zealand and Australia has hit it's first rough patch.

No supporter was able to see what a player's off-the-ball work rate is like while watching the match from the comfort of their couch, however, that has now changed.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Lions confirmed on Thursday that they will be getting a Bok back from England.

NEWS: Marseille has lost the privilege to host two of Europe's major rugby finals.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels has made just one change to his matchday 23 for their clash against the Reds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Reds coach Brad Thorn unveils his team to face the Melbourne Rebels.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Waratahs have named their team for their all-important Round Two Super Rugby AU encounter with the Western Force.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Western Force will rely on continuity and experience for their first match back in Super Rugby since 2017.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues have named a powerful team for their top-of-the-table match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made few changes to his side for their top-of-the-table encounter against the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday.

UPDATE: The Western Province Rugby Football Union is adamant they now control their own destiny, after taking the next step in the redevelopment process of the Newlands Stadium.

FORCEFUL RETURN: After getting the Super Rugby boot in 2017, the Western Force make their return with a vengeance.

NEWS: Some of South Africa’s World Cup winners will be back on the field on September 5.

NEWS: Preparations for the mid-August restart of the Premiership suffered a blow on Wednesday when it was revealed that six players recently tested for Covid-19 returned positive results for the virus.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com contributor Yolulwe Qoshe sat down with veteran prop Schalk Ferreira to chat about the recent upheavals in Port Elizabeth and the Southern Kings' future.

TRANSFER NEWS: Pro14 side Connacht have manege to secure the signatures of rising South hemisphere stars.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers have agreed a new deal with international Jaco Taute.

SPOTLIGHT: The Reds have been warned not to use a gruelling travel schedule as an excuse for their Super Rugby AU clash with the Melbourne Rebels in Sydney.

INTERVIEW: Northampton Saints’ new signing Shaun Adendorff would like to leave a legacy at Franklin’s Gardens when he arrives this season.

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders head to Wellington this week for a date with the revitalised Hurricanes, minus one of their key players.

New Zealand's Super Rugby stars anonymously voted Glen Jackson as the worst Super Rugby referee, however, it is no secret who South Africans will vote for.

NEWS: NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU) has revealed their new president at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

SPOTLIGHT: SANZAAR's South African CEO Andy Marinos is protesting forcefully, but another report emerged that New Zealand should 'dump' South Africa in exchange for a Trans-Tasman deal.

INTERVIEW: Coach Dave Rennie is unruffled by his separation from the Wallabies as he solidifies plans to promote youth and spurn off-shore players to get immediate results.

TRANSFER NEWS: Waratahs have secured the signature of Dave Porecki for Super Rugby AU.

NEWS: The French Top 14 will reduce its world-leading salary cap gradually over the next four years due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Castres president Pierre-Yves Revol told AFP.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA SPOTLIGHT: It was once the most intense and fierce battle in New Zealand. Then it lost its lustre.

REACTION: Six Nations have issued a statement following recent speculation surrounding the status of its negotiations with CVC Capital Partners.

NEWS: Bernard Laporte told AFP on Tuesday he will run for re-election as French Rugby Federation (FFR) president later this year.

PREMIERSHIP NEWS: Cobus Wiese remains on the Sale Sharks' team list, while he awaits an opportunity to pass an English test.

NEWS: After 36 appearances and 19 tries for Leinster, wing Barry Daly has announced his retirement from the game.

CONTRACT UPDATE: The Lions have made some key signings in the past week, as they start building towards the possible return of the game in South Africa.

NEWS: Leicester Tigers have agreed a new deal with back row Hanro Liebenberg.

NEWS: South African Gerbrandt Grobler is reportedly the latest player to leave Gloucester.

Since the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa, there have been a few "new" faces who have emerged as front runners to run out in the All Blacks jersey in the very near future.

TRANSFER NEWS: French international wing Remy Grosso has signed a one-year contract with Lyon, where he started his career, the club said on Tuesday.

IN CONVERSATION WITH TENDAI MTAWARIRA: In part two of his engaging chat the Springbok World Cup winner opens up about some very personal issues in his life.

SPOTLIGHT: New results from an anonymous poll conducted among current New Zealand Super Rugby stars has revealed who is the worst Super Rugby referee. 

SPOTLIGHT: Finn Morton takes a look at the top five players from Round one of the Super Rugby Australia. 

NEWS: Exciting young wing Mark Telea, who is half South African and half Samoan,  has extended his time at the Blues for at least another two years.

SPOTLIGHT: SANZAAR bosses haven’t given up on staging a full Rugby Championship this year and say it could unfold inside an Australian eastern seaboard bubble.

OPINION: Many fans believe Chiefs' winless streak is all thanks to Warren Gatland. However, Campbell Burnes looks at the other contributing factors.

NEWS: Waratahs are focused on improving their discipline as they prepare to face a Western Force side they admit they "don't know too much about".

NEWS: An English club has bolstered their coaching team with a South African.

NEWS: The English Rugby Football Union has announced plans to slash a quarter of its staff as part of sweeping measures to cope with the devastating financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

STATISTICAL LOOK AT SUPER RUGBY: Jan de Koning unpacks the statistics after four rounds of New Zealand's new domestic competition.

NEWS: Former Scotland skipper Greig Laidlaw has a new team.

SPOTLIGHT: Alex McLeod takes a look at the frontrunners in Super Rugby Aotearoa and the top five players from the past weekend.

NEWS: Worcester Warriors lock Michael Fatialofa is reportedly facing an enormous medical bill.

The Wallabies have not had a constant, dynamic halfback pairing since the golden days of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham...until now.

NEWS: Hurricanes lock Scott Scrafton has been found 'guilty' of intentional offending in his team's 25-18 win over the Chiefs at the weekend.

SPOTLIGHT: He can feel the hype but Brumbies young gun Noah Lolesio is doing his best to stay cool after emerging as a genuine contender for the Wallabies' No.10 jumper.

NEWS: One of the Western Force's most senior players will sit out the team's long-awaited return to Australia's top-tier competition - Super Rugby AU.

NEWS: The rising star's future has been decided.

NEWS: New Zealand's top rugby players are not happy with the new All Blacks coaching set-up.

NEWS: World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte has revealed that CVC will acquire a 14.5 percent stake in the Six Nations.

DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Hurricanes lock Scott Scrafton will face a disciplinary hearing on Monday after has received a Red Card for foul play during a Super Rugby match against Chiefs.

REACTION: The Brumbies say they're indebted to the Melbourne Rebels for enabling the smooth, if unusual, take-off of the new Super Rugby AU competition.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Springboks captain Mahlatse 'Chiliboy' Ralepelle's latest eight-year doping ban has again shined a light on the ugly reality of the sporting code.

VIDEO: Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett has done it again.

NEWS: Steve Diamond, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, has denied opening talks with Leicester’s Manu Tuilagi, but revealed the club does have room in their salary cap for the England centre.

WATCH as we bring all the highlights from week one of the Super Rugby AU and week four of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

SPOTLIGHT: The Highlanders final 20-40 scoreline loss to the Crusaders at home didn’t reflect the quality of the effort shown by the home side.

MATCH REPORT: The Hurricanes recorded their first Super Rugby Aotearoa win with a 25-18 win over the Chiefs.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Four encounter between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton.

REACTION: Making sense of the Newlands Stadium developments in recent weeks has been difficult enough, without having to take into consideration the myriad of sideshows.

NEWS: The French rugby union federation (FFR) on Saturday approved a budget for the 2020/21 season showing a €5.6-million (US$6.3-million) deficit as it scrambles to aid clubs hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

SPOTLIGHT: Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears are ‘chasing hard’ for the signature of Leicester Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi.

REACTION: Scott Robertson gave his team a powerful half-time message that saw them turn a deficit into victory.

REACTION: Watch as All Black flyhalf Dan Carter speaks about his first game in New Zealand since 2015.

The Brumbies have picked up where they left off pre-shutdown to post a thrilling 31-23 Super Rugby AU win over the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.

NEWS: All Black legend Dan Carter turned out for his childhood club in rural New Zealand Saturday to test his fitness ahead of a hoped-for return to Super Rugby Aotearoa.

MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders kept their perfect Super Rugby Aotearoa record intact with a hard-fought 40-20 win over the Highlanders at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round One encounter between the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Four encounter between the Highlanders and Crusaders in Dunedin.

NEWS: An England star's Test career could be over if he opts to move overseas

NEWS: Premiership clubs have been given the green light to move to stage two of returning to training from Monday.

NEWS: A new five-person board has been confirmed to oversee the Southern Kings affairs.

NEWS: The Springboks have revealed the replacement for Aled Walters.

SUPER RUGBY AU MATCH REPORT: The Reds ended an 11-game, seven-year losing run against the Waratahs, overcoming a second-half fightback to win by six points.

NEWS: Israel Folau will be staying in France for at least another season after signing a new contract with the Catalan Dragons.

The All Blacks' Sonny Bill Williams was all the rage in 2010 when he switched from League to Union for his offloading skills but a recent video shows that there may be a new offload king on the international rugby scene.

NEWS: Former Springbok forward Ashley Johnson has joined English club, Birmingham Moseley, as a player-coach.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby AU Round One encounter between the Reds and Waratahs in Brisbane.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Wallabies flyhalf Mike Harris on Thursday penned a two-year deal with Pau after just two seasons in Japan with the Toshiba Brave Lupus, the French Top 14 side announced.

SPOTLIGHT: Super Rugby AU will be a series of 'trials' for places in the Wallaby team later this year.

IN CONVERSATION WITH TENDAI MTAWARIRA: The Sharks will be able to rely on the expertise of a true legend to bring the next batch of front row forwards through.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jordie Barrett will make his return to Super Rugby Aotearoa, as the Hurricanes get set for a clash against the Chiefs in Hamilton this Sunday.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: New Zealand was the envy of the world for three weeks, as they became the first professional competition to restart with spectators.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has made five changes for the Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against the Hurricanes.

TRANSFER NEWS: Blues playmaker Beauden Barrett has confirmed he will play in Japan during his playing sabbatical break away from New Zealand next year.

NEWS: Saracens revealed Alex Lewington has signed a new deal to keep him at the club until at least 2022.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Cheetahs confirmed that wing Rabz Mazwane will join Super Rugby franchise the Lions.

REACTION: Former Springboks captain Mahlatse Ralepelle will most likely be 'advised' by his legal counsel to appeal his eight-year ban.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Hurricanes backline is set to be bolstered with the signing of a new flyhalf.

TRANSFER TALK: Fresh reports suggest that All Black and Blues superstar back Beauden Barrett has agreed to a lucrative deal to play for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.

REACTION: England prop Kyle Sinckler has candidly revealed why he opted to exit Harlequins and joined Bristol Bears.

SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Rugby has rekindled the historic North Island versus South Island match as uncertainty remains over the sport's coronavirus-affected international calendar.

We've previously shared a video that shows the immense strength and power that South African schoolboys posses and now here's the other side of the coin - sheer speed.

AERIOS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: "The South African Rugby Union needs to act as a responsible governing body."

NEWS: The Welsh Rugby Union have announced they will provide an additional fund to help clubs returning to action following the coronavirus lockdown.

NEWS: Michael Cheika Thursday called on Australia's director of rugby Scott Johnson take a back seat and trust new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie to "be the boss".

TRANSFER NEWS: Western Force have signed former Wallabies Pek Cowan and Nick Frisby before the launch of Australia's new domestic rugby competition.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Injuries have opened the door for four players to make their Melbourne Rebels debut against the Brumbies

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Local product Mack Hansen will get his first start for the Brumbies in Saturday's opening-round Super Rugby AU clash with the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A refresh for the front row and injuries have had an impact on Aaron Maugers’ team to play the Crusaders in the South Island clash on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has made five changes to his starting side and one positional change for their clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

TRIALS FOR RENNIE: Super Rugby resumes in Australia this week after a near four-month coronavirus hibernation with new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie watching closely as he ponders his first line-up.

UPDATE: UPDATE: One of England's biggest rugby names has left Leicester after failing to agree a new contract on reduced terms, the English Premiership club said Wednesday.

REACTION: England and Northampton Saints forward Lewis Ludlam says he does not believe supporters should be banned from singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'.

REACTION: Leicester Tigers could face a legal backlash from a group of players stood down on Wednesday.

NEWS: Northampton Saints have announced that employees at the club will take a 12-month salary reduction, following recent discussions.

PREMIERSHIP NEWS: Northampton Saints has confirmed the club's first-team squad list for the remainder of the 19/20 season and the duration of the 20/21 season.

THE LAW OF CHOICES AND DECISIONS: @rugby365 columnist and two-time World Rugby Junior Championship winner Eugene Eloff gives some sage advice to young players and coaches.

NEWS: Australian rugby players will return on 70 percent of their original wage when Super Rugby AU kicks off on Friday after an agreement was reached on Wednesday.

When Super Rugby AU kicks off on Friday, all eyes will be on Reds loose forward Fraser McReight after being touted as the heir to David Pocock.

NEWS: A Springbok's career is officially over.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Waratahs head coach Rob Penney has named a squad full of young talent to take on the Reds.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Reds have revealed their team to face the Waratahs in Brisbane on Friday.

BREAKING NEWS: Zelt Marais has managed to get his 'new' development deal for the Newlands stadium pushed through.

TRANSFER NEWS: The exodus from relegated English club Saracens continues.

NEWS: There has been a major new development in the story surrounding Exeter Chiefs and it’s branding.

NEWS: Northampton Saints have managed to sign another 19 first-team players - including some of the biggest names in the game.

REACTION: Stade Francais coach Gonzalo Quesada said the struggling, big-spending Parisian club were launching a "new cycle" aiming for a place in the top six in the French league by 2022.

IN CONVERSATION WITH VICTOR MATFIELD: South Africa has some amazing coaching talent - as three World Cup victories can attest to.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When they hoisted the 2012 IRB Under-20 World Championship trophy at Newlands, the Junior Springboks were oblivious to what the future holds.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Sharks have lost one of their players to the Southern Kings.

NEWS: Argentina international forward Marcos Kremer has signed a three-year deal with Stade Francais until 2023, the Top 14 club announced Tuesday.

STAT ATTACK: A strong defensive game is a key addition to any team's arsenal when a mounting serious title challenge.

NEWS: World Rugby announced the cancellation of the remaining four tournaments of the Sevens World Series.

There is much debate about which country has the best junior-level players, so we hope this video of South African schoolboys in action settles it.

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders will be tasked with taking down the Crusaders this Saturday without their star playmaker

UPDATE: With a new deal safely tucked into his back pocket, Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais must convince his constituents that they must vote in favour of 'change'.

NEWS: The Waratahs are set to field one of their least experienced backlines in memory.

NEWS: The Crusaders received some bad news ahead of their Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Four match against the Highlanders.

UPDATE: There will be no decision Tuesday by World Rugby on the thorny issue of how many international Tests can be played in November, an official said.

TRANSFER NEWS: Worcester Warriors X-Factor wing Melani Nanai has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Sixways until at least 2023.

SPOTLIGHT: World Rugby will likely not rule on the thorny issue of how many international Tests can be played in November when its decision-making council meets on June 30, an official said Monday.

BRAINTEASER: @rugby365com's quizmaster Paul Dobson has returned, by popular demand, with another selection of arresting posers to test your rugby knowledge.

NEWS: Oupa Mohoje’s playing future has been revealed by his team.

NEWS: There were some good news and some sad news when Saracens captain Brad Barritt revealed his playing future on Monday.

REACTION: Calls for a new stadium in Christchurch have grown louder in the wake of the Crusaders’ ugly 18-13 win over the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium on Sunday.

INTERVIEW: Former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush believes the Western Force's raft of youngsters will blossom in Australia's new domestic rugby competition.

TRANSFER NEWS: Former Chiefs wing James Lowe has committed to a long-term goal of playing Test Rugby for Ireland by stating he will remain at Leinster for another three years.

NEWS: The Rebels’ round two Super Rugby AU match against the Reds will not be played at AAMI Park after the Queensland government’s crackdown on Victorian sports teams.

Everyone's attention was glued to the intense on-field action of the 2019 World Cup but you may have noticed some of these more light-hearted moments.

NEWS: Carlos Spencer's time with the Hurricanes is over.

NEWS: Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was Monday linked with another top job.

SPOTLIGHT: In Part two of his chat with Aerios Chief Executive Costas Constantinou, Jan de Koning looks back at where it all started and what rights WP Rugby held.

REACTION: Gloucester has responded to the statement by London Irish in which the club threatened to sue the Cherry and Whites over the signing of new head coach George Skivington.

NEWS: Top 14 club presidents have voted unanimously to extend the international year-end Test window to five weeks.

SPOTLIGHT: World Cup-winning coach Jake White has embarked on the biggest modern-era spending splurge, as he seeks to make the Bulls a powerhouse again.

REACTION: British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland spat the dummy after yet another loss with the Chiefs.

WATCH as we bring all the highlights from Week Three of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

REACTION: The Highlanders are well-aware that they need to bounce back immediately to keep their 'title' dreams alive.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Waratahs suffered two more body blows, just a week out from the start of Super Rugby AU.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA MATCH REPORT: A quick one-two from fullback Will Jordan allowed the Crusaders to keep the Chiefs winless and pile pressure on coach Warren Gatland.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Three encounter between the Crusaders and Chiefs in Christchurch.

NEWS: Gloucester's new head coach has been revealed.

FLASHBACK: Rassie Erasmus is someone who does not enjoy the limelight and his time as Springbok head coach is evidence of this.

REACTION: The Blues had to show real resolve as they hung on in desperation to edge a determined Highlanders in Auckland on Saturday, giving them a perfect three wins from three wins in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

Caleb Clarke has become the talk of the town with fans and pundits singing his praises since returning to the Blues' fold after spending the early part of the season plying his trade with the New Zealand Sevens team.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA MATCH REPORT: The Blues remain the team to beat after three rounds of New Zealand's in-house competition.

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Three encounter between the Blues and Highlanders in Auckland.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH ZELT MARAIS: Jan de Koning sat down for a factual discussion with Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais.

NEWS: The Ospreys announced Brock James has been appointed as their new Attack Coach.

NEWS: Wales centre Nick Tompkins will play for Pro14 side Dragons on loan from Saracens for the 2020/21 season, it was announced on Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: With the coronavirus pandemic playing havoc with international rugby, organisers of the 2023 World Cup are prepared to rank teams on their form in 2019 for November's pool draw.

SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning chats to Aerios Chief Executive Costas Constantinou, to get the uncos on the looming court case.

TRANSFER NEWS: England wing Jonny May has signed a new long-term deal with Gloucester, the English Premiership club said on Friday.

There have been many renditions of the South African National anthem that made supporters gleam with national pride but there have also been some renditions that were simply downright embarrassing.

TRANSFER NEWS: Springbok and Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi is one of several South Africans that will join Johan Ackermann’s new team.

NEWS: English club Gloucester confirmed on Friday that eight players will be leaving the team

IN CONVERSATION WITH VICTOR MATFIELD: Peter de Villiers may not have been everyone's cup of tea as a Springbok coach, but he has certainly been the most entertaining of all the Bok mentors.

NEWS: Western Force flank Chris Alcock says his fear of getting injured convinced him it was the right time to retire.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named his team to take on the Chiefs in Christchurch on Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has named his side to challenge the Crusaders in Christchurch on Sunday.

TACKLING BREAKDOWN CONCERNS: New Zealand is truly getting a head start on the rest of the world, as they come to grips with the new approach to tackle and breakdown laws.

TRANSFERS NEWS: Jake White be very busy on the recruitment stage, but at the same time he is also offloading players surplus too requirements.

REACTION: Under-fire Western Province Rugby Football Union President Zelt Marais has dismissed suggestions that Newlands Stadium will go on action next week.

NEWS: Melbourne Rebels boss Baden Stephenson has doused any suggestion of a Super Rugby boycott from his players, guaranteeing they are all locked in for what could be more than a fortnight away from home to relaunch the season.

INTERVIEW: Wallabies prop James Slipper has called on players to lead Australian rugby out of the doldrums with better performances and a "winning mindset".

OPINION: While taking out the Super Rugby Aotearoa title with just six wins from eight matches is entirely possible, doing so with just five victories under the belt seems unlikely at best.

NEWS: New dates have been announced for the postponed knockout stage matches in the 2019/20 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

Since Jake White took over the Director of Rugby role at the Bulls, he has been on a signing spree and their potential new-look lock pairing could be the new Victor Matfield/Bakkies Botha combination the Franchise has been looking for.

NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels will relocate to Canberra from this coming Friday in a bid to ensure player safety as they step up preparations for the Super Rugby AU season amidst a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.

NEWS: Talks are underway to stage a historic cross-code rugby international match between New Zealand's All Blacks and Australia's Kangaroos, it was revealed Thursday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Fresh off the bye and a first-round win against the Chiefs, head coach Aaron Mauger has resisted making too many changes to the Highlanders team to play the Blues.

TRANSFER NEWS: Blues coach Leon MacDonald has revealed his team to face the Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday.

UPDATE: Lawyers are beginning to play an increasingly bigger role in the developments of the aeonian Newlands Stadium saga.

SPOTLIGHT: June 24! 25 years ago went down in World Cup history as the day South Africa partied like never before. Rugbypass writer Liam Heagney reports 

World Cup-winning Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus – now Director of Rugby – in a very a frank discussion with players following their opening defeat to All Blacks.

NEWS: Glasgow Warriors have announced that Leone Nakarawa, will remain at Scotstoun until 2021, subject to visa.

NEWS: The plan to have South Africa's teams return to play in August has just been boosted with more positive news out of the South African Rugby camp.

NEWS: As that bromidic idiom goes: 'It never rains but it pours.' At Newlands that certainly rings true.

SPOTLIGHT: One tablet a day is all it takes for former Wales player Gareth Thomas to know that he cannot transmit HIV in any way.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie has lured a familiar name back to Bloemfontein.

TRANSFER NEWS: Leicester Tigers have signed English-qualified, versatile back Harry Potter from Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels.

TRANSFER NEWS: Jake White has lured another player to Loftus Versfeld.

INTERVIEW: The 2019 World Cup has left a "huge legacy" in Japan and its success should embolden countries such as the United States to bid for future events, says World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper.

The day will always be remembered for the impact it had on bringing together a nation, as the Francois Pienaar-led Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time in South Africa's history.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Wallabies prop Greg Holmes admits he was considering retirement before being lured to the Western Force for a fairytale Australian homecoming.

SPOTLIGHT: The chief executive of World Rugby believes the sport can, at last, get to grips with the longstanding problem of a global calendar, just days out from a seemingly key vote.

NEWS: Cobus Wiese can only make his way to new club Sale in England once he passes an English test.

REACTION: Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has said he will no longer sing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' as the body reviews the song's use by England fans.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia's push for closer ties with New Zealand has extended to potentially offering the Kiwis pool matches in its bid to host the 2027  World Cup.

NEWS: The Crusaders confirmed the extent of their captain's injury on Wednesday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Argentina forward Guido Petti has joined Bordeaux-Begles, the Top 14 club announced on Tuesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The drop goal has always been an integral part of the identity of South African Rugby.

INTERVIEW: Veteran Western Force rugby hooker Heath Tessmann has likened himself to a trusty FJ Cruiser as he gears up for the team's assault against their Australian rivals.

WATCH as @rugby365com contributor Angus Opperman sits down for a chat with renowned flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have signed a "powerhouse" lock to bolster their pack.

It was an incident that would cement Duncan McRae as one of the biggest thugs the game has seen after he completely tore into a hapless Ronan O'Gara in 2001.

NEWS: The Highlanders will lose one of their coaches at the end of the season.

INJURY UPDATE: All Blacks duo Josh Ioane and Nehe Milner-Skudder have been ruled unavailable for the Highlanders’ clash against the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland this week.

INJURY UPDATE: The Blues' winning campaign just took a huge injury blow with the news of loose forward Tom Robinson.

INJURY UPDATE: Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland received some bad news regarding one of his star players.

NEWS: Australian utility back Kurtley Beale has opened up about his early release from his Waratahs contract.

WATCH as World Cup-winning former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar reveals the one big regret from his playing career.

SPOTLIGHT: Former England captain Chris Robshaw wants to help inspire a new generation of American players.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson sinks his teeth into another juicy debate, following Round Two of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

TRANSFER NEWS: Cheetahs finally revealed the news that BlitzBoks stalwart, Rosko Specman, will make a return to the Cheetahs after signing a two-year contract at the franchise.

INJURY UPDATE: Munster players returned to training on Monday for their first on-field training session since March.

BREAKING NEWS: South African Rugby has been forced, for a second time, to step in and assume 'management control' of the Southern Kings.

NEWS: Scotland international hooker George Turner has put pen to paper and signed a two-year contract extension with Glasgow Warriors ahead of the 2020/21 season.

INTERVIEW: Former Scotland assistant coach Jason O’Halloran believed that spending £400 000 on a decent-level Super Rugby player is utter 'madness'.

SPOTLIGHT: South Africa skipper Francois Pienaar receiving the World Cup from Nelson Mandela endured long after the 1995 final, but there were other headline makers at the tournament.

SPOTLIGHT: Incoming Wallaby coach Dave Rennie hopes to harness more of Australian's overseas talent without completely abandoning the Giteau Law.

There is no better sound that hits you in the feelings than a capacity crowd belting out their country's national anthem and because we're missing it, we thought we'd share some insane national anthems from years gone by.

SPOTLIGHT: While New Zealand and Australia have both settled on plans for the domestic 2020 season, which was originally turned on its head due to the coronavirus pandemic, there’s still much to be decided for 2021.

SPOTLIGHT: Newly appointed Wallaby coach Dave Rennie on Monday revealed the areas he believes they need to improve in, in order for Australia to challenge top teams.

SPOTLIGHT: Former Australia rugby coach Michael Cheika has played down links with the vacant job at English Premiership side Gloucester, saying he is still searching for the right opportunity.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com’s law guru Paul Dobson takes a look at the officiating during the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Two match between Hurricanes and Crusaders. 

NEWS: South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus underwent chemotherapy for a serious condition in 2019.

INTERVIEW: World-class referee JP Doyle believes Springbok legend Bakkies Botha may have struggled to excel in today’s rugby world.

REACTION: Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson revealed some grim news after his team's 39-25 victory over the Hurricanes on Sunday.

OPINION: Erudite Springbok turned pundit Dawie Snyman is back with another of his elucidating and disporting columns.

NEWS: The Brumbies star Blake Enever has been granted a release on compassionate family grounds effective immediately.

NEWS: Wallabies star Kurtley Beale has reportedly requested an early release from his Waratahs contract and wants out of Australia's new Super Rugby competition.

MATCH REPORT: The Crusaders got their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign off to a perfect start with a 39-25 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Two encounter between the Hurricanes and Crusaders in Wellington.

SPOTLIGHT: American football player Marquette King has sparked controversy after claiming he would “dominate” rugby if he played the sport.

REACTION: Two crucial shots at goal from Beauden Barrett late in the match saw the Blues pull off a rare 24-12 victory over the  Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: Tom Jones’ ode to heartbreak 'Delilah'could be the latest rugby anthem to face the chop after calls on Twitter to have it banned from Welsh grounds.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's law guru Paul Dobson takes a look at the officiating during the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Two match between Chiefs and the Blues.

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok star Francois Louw said goodbye to the game on Saturday.

MATCH REPORT: The Blues made it two wins from two matches in Super Rugby Aotearoa after they beat the Chiefs 24-12 in Hamilton on Saturday.

SPOTLIGHT: The unfamiliarity with the new player in the Newlands Stadium saga has raised many eyebrows, more so the circumspection of the owners of Any Side Investments.

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Super Rugby Aotearoa Round Two encounter between the Chiefs and Blues in Hamilton.

REACTION: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday weighed in on the 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' controversy.

NEWS: Premiership play-off-chasing Sale has been deal a double off-field blow.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wallabies lock Will Skelton will depart the club at the end of the month after four fantastic years as a Saracen.

REACTION: Pacific Rugby Players Welfare chief executive Dan Leo has expressed concern over World Rugby’s governance review.

INTERVIEW: Melbourne Rebels attack coach Shaun Berne says the Brumbies deserve favouritism for the new Super Rugby AU competition but he's interested to see which team embraces the rule changes best.

FRIDAY FEATURE: The Blues' Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign certainly got off a good start with an impressive 30-20 win over Hurricanes.

NEWS: Following an eight-year professional career the Harlequins hooker Max Crumpton will retire with immediate effect.

Every country has its own way of countering the All Blacks' haka but no crowd does it better than an 80 000 capacity Twickenham, however, that may never happen again.

INTERVIEW: Prized Western Force recruit Kyle Godwin hopes his early move back to Australia can help reignite his Wallabies career.

LAUGH A LITTLE: There are numerous classic one-liners that will have your belly aching and we have done our best to provide that for you.

NEWS: Australia's Super Rugby AU will not only be behind New Zealand's Super Rugby Aotearoa‎ in playing quality, but also in crowd numbers.

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE CLASS OF '95: Next Wednesday, June 24, will be the Silver jubilee of one of the greatest days in South African rugby.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Two changes have been made to the Hurricanes starting line-up set to face the Crusaders at Sky Stadium this Sunday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Crusaders are set to play their first match of the competition after sitting out Round One with a bye.

THE CRUSADE STARTS AGAIN: The 10-time Super Rugby champions and pre-season favourites the Crusaders enter the race this week.

NEWS: The RFU is looking into the singing of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' by England fans amid suggestions many supporters are unaware of its origins as a song about American slavery.

NEWS: Baptiste Serin has set his sights on more game time for France after having played just 16 minutes in four Six Nations matches before the tournament was put on hold.

WATCH as new All Blacks captain Sam Cane shares his thoughts on lockdown, the team's famous regeneration and the pressures and privileges of keeping the squad on top.

SPOTLIGHT: Cheetahs and Southern Kings continue to work closely with SA Rugby in the coming months after the announcement of the provisional PRO14 schedule.

Bryn Gatland's late drop goal that sealed an opening round Super Rugby Aotearoa victory for the Highlanders over the Chiefs, has cost him a spot in his father's will - Warren Gatland has revealed.

SPOTLIGHT: One of the real hard men in green and gold and the first person to represent South Africa in 50 Tests, Mark Andrews has revealed what brought him to tears.

The world was in stitches after the Hurricanes' Dane Coles pulled the Blues' Beauden Barrett into a try celebration but this wasn't the first time this type of celebration has happened - just ask Aaron Cruden.

INTERVIEW: Lewis Holland says his end destination was always to play Super Rugby but he's making an early pit-stop at Melbourne Rebels before next year's delayed Tokyo Olympics.

NEWS: The Southern Kings are looking for a new flyhalf, ahead of the revamped Currie Cup competition.

Ben O'Keeffe and Brendon Pickerill are the referees   to the two matches in Super Rugby Aotearoa, Round 2. If Round 1 is anything to go by, they will be energetic occasions watched by enthusiastic spectators at the ground and round the world - two islands of normalcy in an abnormal world.

SPOTLIGHT: Warren Gatland has insisted he isn’t sitting in Hamilton plotting how to become the All Blacks coach.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues unveiled a potent loose trio for their clash against the Chiefs.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has named his team to face an in-form Blues in Round Two of Super Rugby Aotearoa in Hamilton on Saturday.

NEWS: World Rugby has launched a governance review led by former British sports minister Hugh Robertson, the organisation said Wednesday.

SPOTLIGHT: The Welsh Rugby Union said Wednesday they were seeking to secure a loan that would keep the professional game alive in Wales amid the "financial shock" of the coronavirus.

SPOTLIGHT: Former England captain Chris Robshaw will extend his career with a move to San Diego Legion, the 2019 Major League Rugby runners-up, once he sees out the currently suspended Premiership campaign with Harlequins.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA: The high penalty count in the opening weekend of Super Rugby Aotearoa was expected.

NEWS: Italy's 119-cap veteran Alessandro Zanni and New Zealand-born lock Dean Budd both announced their retirement from international rugby on Tuesday.

BREAKING NEWS: The Newlands Stadium saga took yet another intriguing new turn when court papers were filed against both SA Rugby and the Western Province Rugby Football Union.

TRANSFER NEWS: With rugby in France beginning to pick up the pace again following the coronavirus cancellation of the 2019/20 season, Lyon have officially confirmed six new signings – including Izack Rodda. 

SPOTLIGHT: Two of South Africa's World Cup winners have been tied down by Sale Sharks for 'next three or four years' after all the squad members agreed to take permanent pay cuts.

NEWS: The Lions have a new name to fill the gap left by the departure of Edgar Rathbone.

REACTION: Rugby Australia is in a state of 'civil war', with one acrimonious public spat after the other.

SPOTLIGHT: Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden is well aware of the threat posed by having double pivots on the field.

It's not often that the camera is focused on the coach's box during a game but when it is, they never fail to give us great moments. Like these coaches absolutely losing their minds at their players.

STAT ATTACK: South African locks are famed for their brutality and the physical nature of their game. However, there is at least one that has the skills to compare with the best backs.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White's patience will be tested as he awaits his Australian rugby return.

REACTION: European club chiefs insist they are not blocking moves to thrash out a new global calendar season and believe World Rugby has failed to recognise the potential massive losses the Northern Hemisphere game faces without an agreed new structure.

NEWS: The French Federation streamlined its third division, creating a single pool of 14 teams in the hope it offers clubs the chance to get on a proper footing before venturing into the professional leagues.

NEWS: The Newlands Stadium saga took yet another, intriguing, new twist this week.

NEWS: Kalyn Ponga has officially ditched his ambition of becoming an All Black after he re-signed with the NRL club Newcastle Knights.

NEWS: PRO14 have provisionally planned to finish its suspended 2019/20 season. 

INJURY UPDATE: The early frontrunners, the Blues, have paid a dear price for their victorious start to Super Rugby Aotearoa.

SPOTLIGHT: Eddie Jones has revealed the media warfare strategy he unleashed in an effort to destabilise the All Blacks before the 2019 Rugby World Cup semifinal.

STAT ATTACK: @rugby365com writer Leezil Hendricks looks at a record that has stood the test of time - almost three decades and six World Cup tournaments.

INTERVIEW: Israel Dagg Israel Dagg tried to make sense of New Zealand players' extreme dislike for the most successful franchise in the competition’s history, Crusaders.

SPOTLIGHT: Wallaby playmaker Christian Lealiifano has been training in Canberra ahead of his return to Japan and dolloping out some wise advice.

The global pandemic has robbed the sports world of witnessing the "Ferrari" unleash his incredible speed at the Olympic Games, set to take place in Japan in 2021.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia announced Tuesday that it had recruited heavy-hitters from business and politics, including former prime minister John Howard, to boost its bid for the 2027 World Cup.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has claimed the title of rugby365 Knockout Fan’s Vote World’s Best Captain, beating Wales' Alun Wyn Jones in the final.

NEWS: The World Rugby Council will vote on creating an adjusted international window from October of this year, where Tests and club games can be completed.

NEWS: English club Gloucester are in search of a top coach to take over at Kingsholm.

SPOTLIGHT: John Philip Botha was the ultimate enforcer and inflicted his version of 'discipline' on opponents for more than a decade.

WATCH as World Cup-winning teammates Handre Pollard and Lodewyk de Jager go head-to-head on social media.

DON’T MISS OUT: In the fifth of their series, the Chris Burger-Petro Jackson Players Fund will host several of the legends from the Class of 1995.

NEWS: The Bulls have secured the services of one of the country's top coaches.

BRAINTEASER: @rugby365com‘s quizmaster Paul Dobson has returned with another tricky test of your rugby knowledge.

If you missed rugby's return with the opening round of Super Rugby Aotearoa, then you would not have seen two fantastic games that made it seem as though the sport's break did not happen.

NEWS: Japan rugby star Kenki Fukuoka, dubbed a "Ferrari" for his sheer pace at last year's World Cup, has pulled out of the running for next year's Olympics to focus on becoming a doctor.

It seems that the much-anticipated documentary "Chasing the Sun" - which outlines the Springboks' 2019 World Cup victory in Japan is nearing completion as Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus released some more never-before-seen footage over the past few days.

NEWS: The Blues sealed their win in the opening round of Super Rugby Aotearoa with the signing of a key player.

NEWS: Waratahs have secured Junior Wallabies coach Jason Gilmore as defence coach for the Australian Super Rugby season.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Highlanders have bolstered their squad with a Wallaby.

TRANSFER NEWS: American prop Titi Lamositele has quit Saracens to join Montpellier on a three-year deal, the Top 14 club announced Sunday.

NEWS: Another organisation in Europe may on the verge of a bitter row following media reports of the Irish Rugby Football Union's plans to implement a 20 percent pay cuts.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Stakeholders across rugby meet on Monday as the first steps towards revising the sport's calendar are made, while a senior figure in the French game has warned against too much change.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com's law guru Paul Dobson takes a look at the officiating during the Super Rugby Aotearoa match between Blues and Hurricanes. 

WATCH as All Blacks hooker Dane Coles scored an epic try for the Hurricanes on Sunday in the opening round of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

FLASHBACK: We go back to 2013 to revisit a famous tackle on an All Black legend.

OPINION: That was a performance to remember for Otere Black – and it was a long time coming.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Queensland Rugby Union has agreed to release St.George Queensland Reds winger Henry Speight to French Rugby club Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque on a three-year deal.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: All Blacks star Beauden Barrett had a very successful Blues debut as his new side secured a comfortable 30-20 win over Hurricanes on Sunday.

READERS' FORUM: Join the discussion of our live blogging of the Round One match of Super Rugby Aotearoa - when the Blues host the Hurricanes in Auckland.

SPOTLIGHT: Referee Nigel Owens has singled out one particular Law variation that he believes could open up the game.

REACTION: The man behind the review of the Premiership's salary cap has warned English Rugby Union about being dragged into a players' strike.

REACTION: If the pre-match family get-together was 'awkward', imagine what the post-match meeting was going to be like.

REACTION: More than 20,000 fans witnessed the Highlanders edge a 28-27 thriller against the Chiefs on Saturday, as New Zealand welcomed the return of live sport after the coronavirus.

NEWS: New Zealander Paul Feeney has quit his role as Kenya's technical director, citing uncertainty over the coronavirus situation and the need to be with his family, the country's rugby union said in a statement Friday.

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365's law guru Paul Dobson makes sense of the high penalty count during the Highlanders' 28-27 win over Chiefs.

SPOTLIGHT: Dual-code legend Mat Rogers has declared Eddie Jones would be a revelation as an NRL coach and is certain his former Wallabies mentor would take the jump to rugby league in his stride.

WATCH as the Highlanders snatched a last-gasp 28-27 win over the Chiefs in Saturday's inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa game.

SUPER RUGBY REPORT: An impressive drop goal by Bryn Gatland made sure the Highlanders secure a dramatic 28-27 win over the Chiefs on Saturday.

READERS' FORUM: Join the discussion of our live blogging of the opening match of Super Rugby Aotearoa - when the Highlanders host the Chiefs in Dunedin.

SPOTLIGHT: Jan de Koning reveals yet another new twist in the interminable and Byzantine Newlands Stadium saga.

NEWS: Jeff Blackett will become RFU President on August, 1 2020, taking over from Peter Wheeler.

NEWS: Toulon president Bernard Lemaitre unveiled a five-year plan for the three-time European champions to once again become "the stand-out club in France, Europe and the world".

NEWS: A bitter row between English Premiership rugby clubs and the players' union over a salary cap reduction deepened on Friday, with both sides firing accusations against each other.

OPINION: Ryan Grant, a @rugby365com contributor and one-time Blues academy recruit, takes a look at two of the most astute acquisitions and how they will impact on Super Rugby Aotearoa.

TRANSFER NEWS: The Bulls have bolstered their squad with another former Stormers player.

TRANSFER NEWS: Livewire South African scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has signed a three-year contract with Montpellier, the Top 14 club announced Friday.

NEWS: Western Force coach Tim Sampson is adamant his team will be competitive in Australia’s new rugby competition, and he’ll be helped by two former Wallabies.

NEWS: The Waratahs suffered a setback on the eve of their return to the playing field.

Faizel Adam, a schoolmaster and the coach to schoolboy teams in the Western Province, died at the age of 50 on Wednesday 12 June 2020, his birthday. An asthma sufferer, he contracted the dreaded Covid-9 disease and was in intensive care at Mediclinic Cape Gate in Brackenfell for five weeks before his much mourned death. He was diagnosed with Covid-9 on 9 May 2020.

NEWS: Melbourne will happily re-sign star NRL wing Suliasi Vunivalu should his switch to rugby union fall through.

NEWS: Bulls revealed that wing Cornal Hendricks has re-signed with the Pretoria franchise. 

Just when you thought you've seen it all in the game - be it on the field or during interviews - up pops these moments that will have you scratching your head.

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia agreed Friday to test new rules in its domestic Super Rugby competition in a bid to liven up the game.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes coach Jason Holland described it as his 'toughest selection in a long time', but he named a powerful team to tackle the Blues in the opening round of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blues coach Leon MacDonald has had a tough selection job to decide his team for the opening match of the Super Rugby Aotearoa.

IN CONVERSATION WITH BARNEY THE BARFLY: John William Smit is a World Cup-winning Springbok captain, but has named one of the most unlikely players as the best captain he played under.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Super Rugby makes a comeback in New Zealand this weekend, with full crowds allowed in a major landmark for professional sport's emergence from the coronavirus shutdown.

TRANSFER NEWS: Australian flyhalf Jono Lance will not be joining Edinburgh.

SPOTLIGHT: Scotland Rugby Union (SRU) chief executive Mark Dodson is hopeful crowds will gather at BT Murrayfield to watch Scotland in the internationals after a date was set for a return to club training.

NEWS: Premiership club Sale Sharks have revealed ambitious plans to eventually return to their spiritual hometown in the Greater Manchester area.

NEWS: It is the worst news possible for any player.

Ashley Johnson made this great hit on Bryan Habana back in 2016 that absolutely floored the Springbok legend.

REACTION: Reds coach Brad Thorn admits he was gutted by the departures of Izack Rodda, Harry Hockings and Isaac Lucas from the Super Rugby franchise.

NEWS: Australia's new domestic competition is set to launch on July 3 and there's a chance Western Force could host some games in Perth.

OPINION: An in-depth look at how Super Rugby Aotearoa's new golden point rule could backfire. Rugbypass analyst Tom Vinicombe delves in.

Back in 1995 at South Africa's first participation and hosting of the World Cup, June 11 marked quarterfinals day as New Zealand took on Scotland and Australia were up against England in what proved to be two high-quality matches.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has revealed his team to face the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Aotearoa season opener on Saturday.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has named his side to take on the Highlanders for their Super Rugby Aotearoa season opener in Dunedin on Saturday.

TRANSFER NEWS: Wasps confirmed the departure of three players, including one of their Springboks.

Chris van Rooyen, who played for Transvaal for 10 seasons, died in Milnerton, Cape Town, on 9 June 2020 after contracting COVID-19.

NEWS: Bordeaux-Begles' long-serving Australian wing Blair Connor on Wednesday announced his retirement from the sport, at the age of 31, and immediately turned his focus to his other passion: surfing.

INTERVIEW: The World Champion Springboks will be at a distinct disadvantage should they face New Zealand and Australia in a revamped Rugby Championship later this year.

REACTION: Premiership clubs could face a major backlash, including legal action, after the latest developments around the salary cap saga.

Quade Cooper has once again displayed why he is the most innovative and skilful player on the planet and quite possibly to have ever stepped onto the field by posting a video that has gathered more than 20000 views on Instagram.

NEWS: Western Force captain Ian Prior is confident his team will not be a pushover in Australia's new rugby competition.

It feels so good to be able to list appointments of referees to matches on the coming weekend. It feels as if normalcy is near at half.

SPOTLIGHT: It is the hot potato South African Rugby embraced and passed the 'test' with flying colours.

NEWS: The Chiefs are battling with injuries ahead of the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

On this day 15 years ago, France secured their spot in the 1995 World Cup with a 36-12 victory over Ireland, but coach Pierre Berbizier wasn't entirely satisfied with their performance, claiming "we are capable of playing champagne rugby, but we are still trying to get the cork out."

TRANSFER NEWS: The Melbourne Rebels have stocked up on some serious Sevens speed ahead of the Super Rugby AU getting underway next month.

NEWS: Super Rugby is gathering momentum again after Rugby Australia confirmed it's five teams that will compete in the revised Super Rugby competition.

NEWS: Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw has signed a contract extension that will cover the end of a season delayed by the coronavirus, the English Premiership club said Tuesday.

NEWS: South Africa's Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard's French side Montpellier announced on Tuesday their players and coaches will take a salary cut.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA SPOTLIGHT: When the Hurricanes roll out against the Blues at Eden Park on Sunday, expect plenty of fireworks from both sides, writes Alex McLeod.

STATE OF THE GAME: The future of SANZAAR remains uncertain, even though 'good faith' negotiations are ongoing.

He tips the scale at 117kgs and stands 1.93 metres tall, so why would Lopeti Timani resort to "violence with a weapon"?

NEWS: The Bulls are set to bolster their coaching ranks at all levels under new Director of Rugby Jake White.

Natal defeated Northern Transvaal in the 1990 Currie Cup final but it was the prediction of Naas Botha following that defeat that paved the way for him to make many more bold predictions for years to come.

STAT ATTACK: The Springboks are blessed with some great scrumhalves in their prime at the moment.

DON'T MISS OUT: In the fourth of their series, the Chris Burger-Petro Jackson Players Fund will host the legend that is John Smit.

NEWS: The Blue Bulls Company and Blue Bulls Rugby Union have establishing a 'relief fund' - aimed at assisting employees and those that serve in club and community rugby.

NEWS: La Rochelle's Australian back-row forward could receive a suspended six-month prison sentence for "violence with a weapon".

NEWS: A few stars will be missing when Super Rugby Aotearoa gets underway this weekend.

INTERVIEW: World Rugby's brains trust is ready to rip up the scrip and start over - culminating in a sensational new global calendar.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT: South African players from the victorious 1995, 2007 and 2019 Rugby World Cup teams have all teamed up during the COVID-19 pandemic.