Ruhan fired up to lead Siya

An emotional Ruhan Nel hopes an evolving game plan and familiar faces can help the Stormers bring the Vodacom URC trophy back to Cape Town next season, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.

The 2021-22 URC winner was named club captain on Tuesday for the 2026-27 campaign, after leading the charge most of last season in the absence of Salmaan Moerat, who has left the club and joined French Top 14 outfit La Rochelle. xsportfeed.life

Nel also skippered the Stormers in a historic 38-21 defeat by the All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series on 7 August at Cape Town Stadium.

“I’ve always thought of myself as an emotional character; I like to play with my heart on my sleeve,” he said after showing off the Stormers’ new home jersey. “This role was actually given to me last season; the coaches thought they’d give Salmaan a break.

“I remember sitting in bed the evening before the Leinster game, thinking: ‘This isn’t going to work out for me.’ But here we are.

“I honestly hope and pray that we can make this season special.”

BlogGérer les critiques constructives au cricketPrendre du recul quand les mots font mal Dans le monde du cricket, chaque geste est scruté, chaque décision peut déclencher un flot de commentaires. Que l’on soit un batteur en ...Ouvrir →

ICYMI: Stormers reveal new jerseys

The Stormers will kick off the new URC season against Connacht away on 25 September, then Edinburgh, before their first home game against the Sharks (10 October).

Nel and co finished the 2025-26 regular season with 12 wins, five losses and a draw, advancing to the playoffs where they beat Cardiff in the shadow of Table Mountain before falling to eventual champions Leinster in Dublin.

The 35-year-old centre was probed on what must change to get over the line this season.

“You can’t go from season to season playing the same style.

“The game has evolved so much; teams analyse you on a weekly basis, looking to counter your scrum or maul, or trap you in transition.

“With the guys coming back from Bok duty and new signings like Cheslin Kolbe and Siya Kolisi, teams will be trying to find plans to box them in. For us, it’s about evolving our game to get these guys into the match effectively.

“We’ve set high expectations for ourselves: to replicate last season’s strong start and potentially finish with a final and bring that cup back home.”

MORE: Kolbe missing key to unlocking ‘Stormers of old’

On the squad’s foundation, Nel added: “The youngsters coming through aren’t just pushing us for places; they’re pushing national guys for places.

“Most of us don’t have the luxury of putting on a Springbok jersey for six months of the year. Every morning we wake up, put on the Stormers badge and just do the work.”

Our club captain for the 26/27 season Ruhan Nel. #inittogether pic.twitter.com/DlkR8hKML2

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 1, 2026

Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images

The post Ruhan fired up to lead Siya appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabiso Monyane has been ruled out of action for four weeks after suffering an injury at training on Monday.

KAIZER CHIEFS SUFFER MONYANE BLOW

Monyane has been key for Amakhosi this season, featuring in all the five matches that they have played so far.

This injury comes at a time when Fernando da Cruz is busy trying to find a winning combination.

In his absence, Da Cruz may have to bring back either Dillan Solomons or Reeve Frosler to play at right-back.

The Amakhosi technical team may also call on Zitha Kwinika to fill in the right-back position depending on the opponents.

Chiefs take on Siwelele FC on Sunday, and this will be their first game without the services of Monyane who is only expected back in October.

Monyane joins a long list of injured Chiefs players, including Langelihle Phili, Ethan Chislett, Flavio Silva, Paseka Mako and Khanyisa Mayo among others.

The 26-year-old right-back has featured in 29 competitive matches since his arrival from arch-rivals Orlando Pirates last season.

Also read | Bafana Bafana latest: Mosimane on why he snubbed Mkhalele

WHO SHOULD FILL IN FOR MONYANE?

Let us know in the comment section below…

FCSB general manager Mihai Stoica has revealed that former Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana has been one of the players he has recently struggled to manage.

Stoica said he once issued the Bafana star with a €30,000 (approximately R560,000) to which he shrug off.

Ngezana joined Romanian giants a few seasons ago after leaving Chiefs. Since moving to Europe, the 29-year-old tall defender has impressed for FCSB, helping them to two league titles.

With the club struggling for results, Stoica said some players have been difficult to manage.

“I couldn’t get Ngezana onto the team bus,” he said as per Kickoff.

” Clearly, I blame myself for that. I couldn’t do it. I told him, ‘You have a €30,000 fine.’ He said, ‘OK, boss.’

“I couldn’t get through to Daniel Birligea, either. How many discussions have I had with him about his constant protests against refereeing decisions? And I believe I have enough arguments and know how to express myself.

“It seemed like he understood: ‘Yes, yes, yes,’ and then, ‘You have a €20,000 fine if you comment on refereeing decisions again.’ And he still comments on refereeing decisions,” Stoica said.

Ngezana underwent knee injury

Ngezana was left out of the Bafana Bafana World Cup team after having to undego a knee injury.

Last month, it was reported that the former Kaizer Chiefs defender was back training with the team. He is yet to feature this season but could find himself back in the field in the coming weeks.

Is the fine fair?

The Springboks return to FNB Stadium this Saturday for another clash against the All Blacks, with nearly 88,000 fans expected to be in attendance.

Back on 6 October 2012, when the Springboks last played at the iconic venue, the All Blacks claimed a comprehensive 32-16 victory, but so much has changed since then.

The only Springbok player still in the mix 14 years later is South Africa’s most capped player of all time, Eben Etzebeth, who started that day as a 20-year-old lock in just his eighth Test.

HERE IS HOW THAT SPRINGBOK TEAM LOOKED BACK IN 2012

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Juan de Jongh.

This Saturday’s match at FNB Stadium kicks off at 17:10, and the total Test caps in the current Springbok starting line-up stands at a whopping 958, There are 366 caps in the backline, with 592 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 222 caps.

SPRINGBOKS – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.

Erasmus said they couldn’t wait for the occasion this weekend.

“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB stadium, where on a good day there is an 80 000 strong crowd, and that will be a new and exciting experience for our players because most of these players have never ran onto the field there, and the support we enjoy there will add to the occasion,” Erasmus commented.

“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion. But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series, so we know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against New Zealand: Played: 112, Won: 44, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 899; Points against: 2 328; Tries scored: 185; Tries conceded: 257. Win %: 39,2%.

Miscellaneous:

• Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 145 caps when he takes the field.
• The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will pass the record they currently share with Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen as the loose trio with the most Test starts at 17 – three more than Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, Andre Venter and Gary Teichmann, who started 14 Tests together.
• Should he take the field, Deon Fourie will stretch his record as the oldest Springbok player to play in a Test match at 39 years by a further week.
• The teams have only met twice at the FNB Stadium in history in 2010 and 2012, with the All Blacks winning both matches (29-22 and 32-16).
• Jasper Wiese requires only two more Test match appearances after this match to join the group of players who have earned 50 Test caps.
• The Springboks have won six of the last eight matches between the teams dating back to August 2023.
• The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 958.**** There are 366 caps in the backline, with 592 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 222 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is 52, the forwards 74, while the players on the bench average 28.