All-Gauteng affair in SA Rugby U21 Cup Final

The Vodacom Bulls will host Gauteng neighbours the Lions in Pretoria on Friday afternoon in this year's SA Rugby Under-21 Cup Final after both sides won their semi-finals played over the weekend, while the Griffons were crowned the SA Rugby U21 Shield champions after beating the Valke in Saturday’s final in Welkom.

The final of the U21 Cup final will be broadcast live on SuperSport, with kick-off at Loftus Versfeld scheduled for 13h00 on Friday.

The Lions beat the more fancied, Junior Springbok-laden DHL WP by 28-26 in a pulsating semi-final played at the Villager Rugby Club in Claremont, Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. The visitors enjoyed a 14-0 lead at halftime, and stretched that to 21-0 and later 28-5 before they had to fought off a determined host who came charging back in the second half.

In the end though, the young Lions were able to edge home by scoring three converted tries and having a crucial penalty try awarded in their favour, while the Capetonians replied with four tries and three conversions.

Ricardo Fourie (hooker), Raynard Roets (lock) and Connor van Buuren (No 8) each grabbed a try for the Lions, with Sam Francis (flyhalf) slotting three conversions.

DHL WP's tries were scored though Lukhanyo Vokozela (hooker), Mambo Mkhize (inside centre), Rynhardt Rijnsburger (replacement prop) and Duran Koevort (replacement fullback). Flyhalf Jacques Rousseau kicked three conversions.

Munashe Dukuzwa on the attack for the Vodacom Bulls U21s.

In the second semi-final played at the Loftus Versfeld B-field in Pretoria, the Vodacom Bulls staged a strong second-half comeback to beat the Leopards 29-6.

It was the Leopards who went into the halftime break 6-5 ahead following two penalty goals by pivot Martin Venter while the Pretoria side replied with an unconverted try.

But the home team came flying out of the blocks after the break to eventually score five tries, one each by Tiaan Lange (hooker), Hanno Theunissen (lock), Danwich Beukes (loose forward), Quewin Nortje (scrumhalf) and Franco Knoetze (fullback). Tiaan Beukes (flyhalf) added the extra points via two conversions.

The two Gauteng sides will now battle it out for the title, with the Lions going into the decider knowing they were the only side to have beaten the Vodacom Bulls this season, by 27-20, when the two teams met a few weeks ago.

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup semi-final results:
DHL Western Province 26 (0), Lions (14) 28
Vodacom Bulls (5), Leopards (6) 6

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup Final – Friday, 21 October
13h00: Vodacom Bulls vs Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Champions of the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition for 2022.

Don stars in Griffons’ U21 Shield Final triumph

Junior Springbok fullback Donovan Don scored 19 points as the Griffons defeated the Valke 24-16 in the SA Rugby Under-21 Shield Final in Welkom on Saturday.

The Northern Free Staters were 16-10 ahead at half-time and never surrendered their lead for a well-deserved triumph at the HT Pelatona Projects Stadium.

Don, who earlier this year played a starring role for the Junior Springboks in their Six Nations Summer Series triumph in Italy, scored a try - which he converted himself - and slotted four successful penalty goals from the kicking tee for a personal contribution of 19 points.

Calla Pienaar (No 8) scored the remaining points for the triumphant Griffons U21 side with a well-worked try. The Valke fought gallantly but in the end they were no match for the purple jerseys.

The team from the East Rand scored a try through scrumhalf Alwyn van Niekerk, which was converted by flyhalf Jacques Blignaut, who also added three penalty goals.

SA Rugby Under-21 Shield Final:
Griffons 26 (10), Valke 16

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup SA Rugby Under-21 Shield Vodacom Bulls Lions Leopards DHL Western Province Griffons Valke

Be part of history in Cape Town this December...

In a little over two weeks’ time, Cape Town will yet again throw Rugby’s Biggest Party, when HSBC SVNS returns to the su...

Rescheduled Vodacom URC derbies confirmed...

The new dates for the two opening round Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies involving the four South African teams...

Bulls and Sharks shine for SA in Vodacom URC...

The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks provided a ray of light for South Africa’s teams in the Vodacom United Rugby ...

SA sides gear up for important round before break...

Another gripping round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship action awaits this weekend as the Emirates Lions face their ...

Coastal sides bounce back as Lions remain unbeaten...

The Emirates Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers made it a Super Saturday for the South African franchises in ...

Fiji break Springbok Women hearts in Auckland

It was heartbreak for the Springbok Women as they went down 21-17 (half-time 14-7) in their second pool clash at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, with a try at the death clinching the victory for Fiji after 80 minutes of tense rugby.

Bok Women still in the RWC fight despite Fiji result

The Springbok Women have one more opportunity to get their first Rugby World Cup victory in New Zealand and despite the fact that they will face the top-ranked team in the world, England, the South Africans have not given up the fight for a quarter-final spot in the tournament.

Sharks surge as Stormers remain unbeaten

It was a weekend of sunshine and rain – literally and figuratively – for the South African teams in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, with the Cell C Sharks making the most of their first home game of the season while the DHL Stormers managed to keep their unbeaten run intact in Wales.

Lions pipped by Ulster in Johannesburg try-fest

Ulster beat the Emirates Lions by 39-37 (halftime 15-18) in a 10-try thriller in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon to halt an impressive winning run in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship by the men in red.

Strong second half allows Sharks to topple Glasgow

The Cell C Sharks delivered a strong second-half showing in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against the Glasgow Warriors at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday in their opening home game of the competition to secure a bonus-point 40-12 victory.

Springboks to begin preparations for year-end tour

The Springboks will begin their preparations for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to the Northern Hemisphere on Sunday with a three-day training camp in Stellenbosch, where 26 players are set to assemble.

Springbok Women still on a RWC mission

The pain of their last-minute defeat to Fiji still lingers, but the Springbok Women have changed track in mindset and focus and are now getting ready for the biggest challenge of their careers, to take on England at Waitakere Stadium in Auckland.

SA sides make Vodacom URC stronger financially

The addition of South African teams to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship has made Irish rugby stronger, not only on the field but in the boardroom as well.

Rugby World Cup boost to Springbok Women's progress

The opportunity to play the top ranked team in the world is massive, the chance to upset the proverbial apple cart is another. In short, their match against England at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is all about the Springbok Women’s desire to make a statement of their intent and continuous growth of the journey to become a top tier team at the next tournament.

Excitement builds for SA ‘A’ team’s two-match tour

SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and SA ‘A’ head coach Mzwandile Stick expressed excitement about the squad they plan to announce next week for their matches against Munster and the Bristol Bears and said the tour would bode well for the national structures and players with an eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup.