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.

The Springboks will return to the Eastern Cape for the first time since 2021 when they take on Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the second Test of the Incoming Series in July, with SA Rugby confirming the venues of the six local Tests on Thursday.

Hollywoodbets Sharks flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse says his family was immensely proud when he and his brother Jaden were selected to play together in the half-back positions for the Springboks against Wales during the Autumn Nations Series in November.

SA Rugby President Mr Mark Alexander and Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus paid tribute to double Rugby World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff following the announcement on Tuesday that he had decided to retire from the game after suffering a serious neck injury last year.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has invited a group of 26 players consisting mainly of overseas-based players, as well as some talented youngsters and injured players, to the first virtual Springbok alignment camps of the year on Wednesday 27 March, following the first in-person camp in Cape Town from Monday 10 to Wednesday 12 March.

The Springboks face a challenging end-of-year tour in Europe as part of the Autumn Nations Series, with tough matches against France and Ireland.

The Springboks will get the wheels in motion for the 2025 season when Rassie Erasmus and his management team host the first in-person coaches’ strategic session of the year followed by a three-day alignment camp with a group of 56 domestic players in Cape Town next month.

Warren Gatland’s second tenure as Wales head coach has ended by mutual agreement. Cardiff Rugby head coach Matt Sherratt has been appointed to lead the Wales senior side for the final three matches of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship.

Toulouse star Antonio Dupont admits that memories of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between South Africa and France will inevitably surface as his team prepares to face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday (17:15).