Hot-stepping Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe became the first backline player since 2013 to take the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year title at a glittering SA Rugby Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town on Thursday evening, while Nadine Roos took home the top women’s award for a second time.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus wrapped up their first alignment camp of the year saying two of the key takeouts from the sessions hosted in the last few days were the encouraging dynamics between the younger and older players, and his plan to use the skillset of all the coaches and management team members to contribute to a well-oiled machine on the field.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the strong start to the first Bok alignment camp of the year following a productive coaches workshop over the weekend and the arrival of the invited players in the Mother City on Monday night, where the focus was placed on laying a solid foundation for the 2025 season.

International rugby will return to Bloemfontein when Georgia’s national team take on the Toyota Cheetahs on 12 July, a week before their Test against the Springboks in Nelspruit.

Loosehead prop Ox Nche makes a welcome return to the Hollywoodbets Sharks side named to host the Emirates Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Saturday’s return leg Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby match.

The Springboks are planning for a very full international season which can include up to 15 matches – the most in a single season for the men in green and gold since 2007 – which will provide national coach Rassie Erasmus the opportunity to test players and increase the depth at their disposal with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia in mind, and beyond that.

There was excitement all around on Wednesday as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer drilled into the details of Felix Jones’ role in South African rugby after rejoining the organisation from England earlier this week, while Jones said he was delighted to return.

Springbok loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu has signed with the DHL Stormers and will join the squad at the end of the current season.

The Emirates Lions delivered a spectacular performance, dismantling the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Emirates Airline Park Stadium in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday.