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The Citizen
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bok squad: Who's in, who's out?
Rassie Erasmus cut the Springbok squad to 45 players on Sunday, releasing 11 players and adding one. The Bok coach made cuts after the first week of training in Johannesburg as the world champions prepare to host the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28 before kicking off the 2025 season in July with two Tests against Italy and one against Georgia. Here's the ins and outs of the squad makeup, including injuries, releases, and new call-ups. Injured and released: Six players have been released due to injuries and will return to their clubs or franchises for rehabilitation: Lukhanyo Am Pieter-Steph du Toit Cameron Hanekom Juarno Augustus Gerhard Steenekamp Ntuthuko Mchunu Released to unions: Five players were released as Erasmus feels there's sufficient cover in their positions, though they remain on standby: Jaden Hendrikse Jordan Hendrikse Quan Horn Renzo du Plessis Ntokozo Makhaza Called up: Edinburgh prop Boan Venter is the only new addition, earning his first Springbok call-up. The former Cheetahs and Junior Springbok loosehead has impressed in the URC and Challenge Cup and is set to join the squad on Sunday, 29 June. Squad updates: The majority of the squad assembled in Johannesburg on Sunday, with Bulls players scheduled to join on Monday evening after their URC final defeat at Leinster, and RG Snyman (Tuesday), Handre Pollard and Thomas du Toit (Monday) arriving this week. 45-man Springbok squad: Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Boan Venter Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Marnus van der Merwe Vincent Koch, Neethling Fouche, Wilco Louw, Asenathi Ntlabakanye Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Jean Kleyn, Cobus Wiese, RG Snyman Lood de Jager, Ruan Nortje, Franco Mostert Siya Kolisi, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith Jean-Luc du Preez, Vincent Tshituka Evan Roos, Jasper Wiese Backs: Faf de Klerk, Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Edwill van der Merwe Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker Jesse Kriel, Canan Moodie Aphelele Fassi, Damian Willemse, Willie le Roux The post Bok squad: Who's in, who's out appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Rugby players are suing over safety – that is why Dan Cole had to see yellow
Ever since I started writing this column it seems that I have had to remind people of the position that Bath rugby club used to have in the English domestic game. Their near total hegemony for more than a decade is the legacy their current players must be sick of hearing about. Last Saturday, in the Premiership final at the Allianz Stadium, was the day from which they should be judged going forward. There is nothing wrong with looking back on a proud history, but it is time to consign Bath's past to its proper place and for new heroes to write their own chapters. In the days of mooted franchises, it is time to give credit to Bruce Craig as an owner who has supported the club without making a return and in the face of planning objections to his proposals to develop the Recreation Ground in situ, rather than taking the easier option of finding a completely new venue. The training facilities he established are first class and in finally stabilising his coaching team he has given the Bath squad the certainty they needed to make the necessary incremental changes to become champions. When asked to contribute a couple of prediction paragraphs for the final, it was not difficult to highlight the contributions that would be made by the two outstanding No 10s on show, Finn Russell and Handre Pollard. I don't take much credit for stating what to me is obvious, that Russell has more to his game than the eye-catching sleights of hand with which he is usually linked. Yet that was one of the telling factors in Bath's win. When Bath came under pressure in the Tigers' second-half fightback, there was Russell calmly doing what was required to keep Bath that bit out in front. I have some sympathy for the frustration shown by Michael Cheika, the Leicester coach, at the officiating. They were on the wrong end of the penalty count and had to play 20 minutes with a man short because of two yellow cards, both of which were down to clumsy rather than deliberate acts. However, they did escape a yellow for a cynical handling penalty from Nicky Smith that probably stopped Bath scoring. The truth is that Tigers went close owing to their famous obduracy, but Bath have been the standout team for most of this campaign and deserved their win for that and because they just shaded a compelling, if uneven, final. Nobody wants games to rest on marginal errors, but fans must appreciate the context in which the relevant laws are created and interpreted. When considering sanctions, the law, rightly, decides on risk not outcome. A flying 19st-plus Dan Cole, colliding late with Russell, poses a risk of injury that would have been avoided had the challenge not been made. It is all arguable, but what do players expect when their colleagues are suing for alleged lack of player safety? This is an area over which there will never be complete agreement and it is one of the things valued by rugby aficionados, but which perplexes casual watchers. 'Common sense' is what the proponents of discretion always say. The problem with giving officials discretion, which is fundamental to rugby flowing as a game at all, is that you can never get absolute consistency. The only way to do that is for there to be strict liability, as there is in the NFL – get caught and you are liable, however trivial the incident. Is that what fans want? I doubt it. Of greater significance to Bath going forward is that three of their most influential players in the victory were Max Ojomoh, Tom de Glanville and Guy Pepper, who are the respective sons of Steve, Phil and Martin. Two sets of elite players, from two distinct eras, that are now marked by success. Where Bath move on to from here remains to be seen. I do not think it is a coincidence that the fostering of the local and English talent has helped Bath's success. After years of buying the last notable player available, Bath have stabilised both their player recruitment and coaching appointments. The manner in which this has been achieved says much about what has finally been forged by Craig, and their coaching team headed by Johann van Graan. It also shows the wisdom of Craig's decision to step down from the chairman's role in 2022. Is 'the sky the limit', as claimed by their captain, Ben Spencer, after the game or will it be a little more complicated than that? I suspect the latter because six different champions in the last six years shows that, on the pitch, the Premiership is in reasonable shape, whatever the outside criticisms.
The Independent
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Bath end their wait for a title with narrow final win over Leicester
Bath sealed an historic treble at Twickenham after battling through the blazing heat to secure a 23-21 Gallagher Premiership final victory over Leicester at Allianz Stadium. Their tries came from Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh on a brilliant afternoon for Scotland captain Finn Russell, who kicked three penalties and two conversions. Jack van Poortvliet opened the scoring with a try for underdogs Leicester, while tries from Solomone Kata and Emeka Ilione – the latter with less than five minutes remaining – dialled up the drama, Handre Pollard adding three conversions but missing a penalty of his own. The Tigers twice had men sent to the sin bin – departing captain Julián Montoya late the first half, while it was not an ideal send-off for the retiring Dan Cole, who saw yellow late in the second. Van Graan's side ended the club's 17-year trophy drought earlier in the campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup, before then winning the European Challenge Cup last month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff. Leicester were unchanged from their Sale semi-final triumph, while Van Graan made two changes for Bath, bringing in Miles Reid in for Alfie Barbeary at number eight and du Toit coming into the front row. Eurovision 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder and his electric guitar were in the house to shred his way through the national anthem before kick-off, and Leicester drew first blood after winning an early scrum penalty. Pollard expertly kicked from hand to the five-metre line and, after Tigers came up just short in the ensuing maul, scrum-half van Poortvliet was able to pry the ball away from the base and dive down before Pollard added the extras. Bath reduced the deficit four minutes after conceding the opening try after winning a penalty just outside Tigers' 22, Russell getting his side on the scoreboard in the ninth minute. Van Graan's side were plagued by handling errors as a cagey contest approached the midway point, then began to find a foothold and took the lead when a big carry over the gain line allowed du Toit to pick up the ball from the breakdown, barge through and dot down, Russell converting to make it 10-7 in the 27th minute. Montoya was sent to the sin bin a minute later for a high tackle on flanker Ted Hill, stood up by TMO, avoiding a red as he was the second Leicester player into the tackle. But just as they were restored to full strength, Russell slotted in a penalty to extend Bath's advantage to 13-7 on the stroke of half-time. Pollard, who was off-target from 10 metres inside Bath's half early in the second half, before the Somerset side extended their lead in style. Russell produced an excellent interception and stormed towards the line after nicking Pollard's pass inside his own half before teeing up outside centre Ojomoh, who crossed under the posts. Russell added the extras, and there was reprieve for Leicester when TMO ruled out a Guy Pepper try for a Will Muir knock-on in the build-up. But Solomone Kata's 67th-minute try and Pollard's conversion made it 20-14 before Cole, who had come on in the 63rd minute, was then issued a controversial yellow for his challenge on Russell, who gave Bath some breathing room with the resulting penalty. Leicester reduced the deficit with less than five minutes remaining when replacement Ilione crossed, Pollard converting. However, they came up just short in their comeback bid as Bath ended their 29-year wait for the title.
Telegraph
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
James O'Connor to join Leicester Tigers after turning down Racing 92
James O'Connor, the Crusaders and Australia fly-half, is expected to join Leicester on a one-year deal after turning down an offer from French big-spenders Racing 92. In a major coup for the Tigers and the wider Premiership, O'Connor, who has won 64 caps for Australia across several positions, will arrive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road later in the summer as a direct replacement for the outgoing Handre Pollard. Telegraph Sport understands that the 34-year-old, who is likely to feature in the Crusaders' Super Rugby semi-final against the Blues on Friday, remains eligible for Wallabies selection for this summer's Lions tour. If selected, he will join up with his Tigers team-mates in August. Should O'Connor be selected for the Tests, he will work with his future club coach, Geoff Parling, who will depart his role as Australia's forwards coach after the series to take the reins at Welford Road. The former Sale and London Irish utility back had plenty of interested suitors but ultimately, Leicester won the race for his signature. The Tigers have been desperate to secure a front-line fly-half to replace two-time World Cup-winner Pollard, but O'Connor refused the offer of Racing 92, the club from which Owen Farrell is trying to negotiate an early departure. It is also understood that Saracens held informal talks with the Australian. Billy Searle, the former Wasps and Worcester fly-half who is currently at Agen in the French Pro D2, is also understood to have put pen to paper for a move to the Tigers. The East Midlands club – who will feature in their second Premiership final in four years this Saturday – last month announced the arrival of 23-year-old Charlie Titcombe from Scarlets. O'Connor is one is of rugby's best known Australians. Aged 17, he became the youngest ever Super Rugby debutant before becoming the second youngest Wallaby a year later. As well as Sale and London Irish in the Premiership, the utility back has played for the Rebels, Reds and Force as well as his current side, the Crusaders. In 2013, O'Connor started every Test as Australia lost the Lions series 2-1.
The South African
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Handre Pollard set for final game abroad before SA return
Handre Pollard is likely hoping for a last sweet victory as he plays his final game with Leicester Tigers next weekend. Just a few days later, the famous flyhalf will officially take up his post with the Bulls. The fly-half's UK club will clash against Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership finals on Saturday, 14 June. On the same day, the Bulls will also play for a title – in the URC Grand Final – against Leinster. Over the weekend, Handre Pollard played his final home game with Leicester Tigers at their Mattioli Woods Welford Stadium. Next weekend, the Springbok star will head to Twickenham for his final game with the club. Handre is likely hoping to help his team clinch a bittersweet victory against Sale Sharks for the Gallagher Premiership title. A fortnight later, Handre returns to his home club, the Bulls, where he made his professional debut. The 31-year-old, his pregnant wife Marise, and their son will soon call Pretoria their new home. In 2022, Handre Pollard signed a R14 million-a-year contract with Leicester Tigers. This secured his spot as one of SA's highest-paid rugby players. But will he take a pay cut or earn the same at the Bulls? According to Planet Rugby, the veteran player is likely to earn 'two or three times more' than the average Springbok [around R7million a year]. He is expected to receive the same salary bracket as his club abroad and in the league of big-name Boks like Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe, and Siya Kolisi. Handre's earnings will not come from the club but from the Player of National Interest (PONI) contracts that SA Rugby pays. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
