By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa’s annual quest to knock arch rivals New Zealand off their pedestal begins again in the Rugby Championship, with little to suggest any impending change in the status quo. A key injury, disappointing returns by South African sides in the recent Super Rugby competition and unconvincing form … Read more
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Juan Smith, who last year retired from rugby due to an Achilles injury, has completed a remarkable comeback after being drafted into the South Africa squad for the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina next week. Smith, a recent winner of the French Top 14 and Heineken Cup with Toulon, has been … Read more
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Flanker Juan Smith is set for a dramatic return to the South African rugby team some 18 months after injury forced his premature retirement from the game. Smith and his Toulon team mates Bakkies Botha and Bryan Habana are all to be called up by the Springboks for the Rugby Championship … Read more
The foreign legion, led by five South Africans, were crowned rugby kings of Europe yesterday as French club Toulon thumped England’s Saracens 23-6. The five – try scorer Juan Smith (ex-Free State – see video below) fellow forwards Craig Burden (Sharks), Bakkie Botha (Bulls) and Danie Rossouw (Bulls) and flying wing Bryan Habana (Stormers) – … Read more
One of the world’s worst-kept secrets was officially confirmed on Saturday when Victor Matfield came out of retirement to assist a young Bulls side, having played a coaching role with the team until now, but setting his sights on playing for the Boks again, having last represented the national side in the 2011 World Cup. … Read more