Friday Five: Foster bemoans 'unacceptable' RWC Final length

It's been another busy week across the rugby world, with Ian Foster, in particular, right in the spotlight.

Beast: USA rugby could emulate Japan's success

Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira, the World Cup-winning former South Africa prop, has backed the USA's potential as a rugby nation, but said they will need a structural overhaul before they can match emerging superpower Japan.

Erasmus: Kolisi may not captain Springboks

South Africa's double World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi may not lead the side this year despite playing excellent rugby for French club Racing 92, coach Rassie Erasmus said on Tuesday.

Twickenham to host Wales-South Africa clash

Wales will meet world champions South Africa in a one-off Test at neutral Twickenham on June 22 before travelling to play Australia in July.

Erasmus back as Boks coach for 2027 RWC

Rassie Erasmus will coach champions South Africa to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery added to the technical team as defence coach and ex-New Zealand flyhalf Tony Brown signed to sharpen the attack.

Erasmus suffers chemical burns in 'freak accident'

South Africa's director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been admitted to hospital after a freak accident left him with chemical burns, officials confirmed on Saturday.

Former Springbok Jantjies banned for four years

South Africa World Cup winner Elton Jantjies has been suspended for four years after being found guilty of using the banned substance Clenbuterol, the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) announced on Thursday.

ESPN Africa to air Bok-filled Japan Rugby League One

Japanese Rugby League kicks off on ESPN Africa this December, featuring Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks Faf De Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel and Pieter Steph du Toit and more.

Springboks to host Portugal in 2024

World champions South Africa will host Ireland and New Zealand for two tests each next year and also welcome Portugal for a historic first meeting between the sides in July as officials confirmed the Springboks' home test fixtures for 2024 on Friday.

Boks '95 RWC winner Strydom dies in car crash

Former Springbok lock Hannes Strydom has died in a car accident, South African Rugby confirmed on Monday, the fifth player from their victorious 1995 World Cup team to pass away.

Mbonambi: Curry accusation 'unprofessional'

South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has denied he used discriminatory language towards England flanker Tom Curry in their Rugby World Cup semifinal in October, labelling the allegations against him "unprofessional".

Erasmus set to retake Boks head coach role

Rassie Erasmus is to return as head coach of South Africa for the foreseeable future, he confirmed to local media on Sunday, reprising the position he held when the side lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

Why rugby will never have another player like Siya Kolisi

At a time when rugby finds itself in a precarious position, Siya Kolisi manages to find and project universal joy through the power of the sport, here's how.

Sam Cane: I'll have to live with red card forever

All Blacks captain Sam Cane said he'll have to live with the pain of being sent-off in the Rugby World Cup final for the rest of his life as South Africa beat New Zealand 12-11 in Paris on Saturday.

Treble of one-point wins make Springboks the masters of fine RWC margins

One of the most tense Rugby World Cup finals on record was won by the barest of margins, by the team who knows how to navigate its way through the tightest of battles. This Springboks team is now immortalised in history.

Springboks deny All Blacks for Rugby World Cup history

South Africa became the first team to win the Rugby World Cup four times when they beat New Zealand 12-11 on Saturday after the All Blacks were reduced to 14 men in the final at the Stade de France.

Springboks deny All Blacks for Rugby World Cup history

South Africa became the first team to win the Rugby World Cup four times when they beat New Zealand 12-11 on Saturday after the All Blacks were reduced to 14 men in the final at the Stade de France.

'I don't think it will ever get any bigger' -- Rugby World Cup final stakes could not be any higher

After seven weeks of tries and tribulations and grand hopes of a new winner on the Rugby World Cup, we've gone full circle back to the two southern hemisphere powerhouses.

Mbonambi to play RWC final after investigation

South Africa's De Klerk, Pollard to start RWC final

South Africa have named Handre Pollard and Faf de Klerk in the starting team for the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand.

How the All Blacks and Springboks can win the Rugby World Cup final

Rugby's greatest rivals will contest the World Cup final against each for the first time since 1995. So how will each team look to unsettle the other? Liam Napier analyses the match's key factors.

FAQs: Explaining rugby's Nations Championship and a 24-team World Cup

World Rugby on Tuesday declared the game had taken a "quantum leap forward" with an historic agreement reached on a new Nations League, expanded men's World Cup, and an aligned global calendar. So what does it all mean?

'Salads don't win scrums' - Ox Nche's key role in getting the Springboks to World Cup final

Destructive loosehead Ox Nche's anchoring of South Africa's 'bomb squad' has been integral to their charge to the final in the Rugby World Cup.

Springboks' Jean Kleyn reflects on 'strange' six months

South Africa lock Jean Kleyn is unlikely to make the line-up for Saturday's Rugby World Cup final but as a member of the 33-man squad he is still pinching himself at how dramatically his fortunes have turned during the last months.

World Rugby to probe alleged racist slur at RWC

World Rugby has confirmed it is investigating the allegation England's Tom Curry was subject to a racist slur from South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi.