ARC Gold Cup semi-finals in Pretoria and Durban

College Rovers and Naka Bulle claimed big victories this past weekend to secure home ground advantage for the African Rainbow Community Gold Cup semi-finals, while the Northam Rhinos and Helderberg recorded impressive wins to gather some momentum ahead of the penultimate round of the tournament.

The quarter-final matches staged in Pretoria, Strand, Setaria and Durban this past Saturday were high-scoring affairs. All four home sides won by comfortable margins, but it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue into the semi-finals.

Naka Bulle proved too strong for the Northam Wolves in Pretoria, scoring 10 tries in a 65-10 win. Winger Pule Molokome dotted down twice for the defending champions, while fullback Hansie Graaf slotted four conversions.

The playoff between Helderberg and Centurion in Strand was in the balance at half-time, with the hosts enjoying a slender 22-19 lead. Helderberg scored 27 points after the break to emerge with a 49-24 victory, with scrumhalf Michael Visser contributing 19 points from the boot.

Northam Rhinos continued their high-scoring run in this tournament, following up a 55-19 win over Pirates in the Round of 16 with a 60-12 victory against Groot-Brakrivier in Setaria on Saturday.

Replacement hooker Maliviwe Simanga scored two of his team’s 10 tries, and the margin of victory may have been greater if not for five missed conversions.

Down in Durban, Inny Radebe scored 14 points to guide College Rovers to a 70-6 win over Louis Trichardt. The Rovers have racked up 237 points over the course of their three fixtures, while conceding just five tries.

College Rovers’ defence will be put to the test this Saturday when they host the Rhinos in Durban. The fixture is a replay of last season’s semi-final, which the KwaZulu-Natalians edged 21-19.

Naka Bulle, who beat Rovers 56-29 in the 2023 final, will host Helderberg in the playoff staged in Pretoria this Saturday.

The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon and will be streamed live on the SuperSport Schools app and website.

Quarter-final results:
Naka Bulle 65 Northam Wolves 10
Helderberg 49 Centurion 24
Northam Rhinos 60 Groot-Brakrivier Rugby Club 12
College Rovers 70 Louis Trichardt 6

Semi-finals (Saturday, 12 October):
15h00: College Rovers v Northam Rhinos (Hollywoodbets Kings Park 3, Durban)
16h00: Naka Bulle v Helderberg (Naka Bulle Rugby Club, Pretoria)

Gold Cup African Rainbow Community Gold Cup African Rainbow Capital Club Rugby

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 ...

Late flourish sees WP defend their U21 crown...

DHL Western Province scored two tries in as many minutes at the death of an absorbing SA Rugby Under-21 final as they be...

Good finish important to confirm progress

The Springbok Women may still have a mathematical chance of finishing top of the WXV 2 standings on Saturday in Cape Town, but it will be a straight forward calculation for the national team on how they want to finish their tournament at Athlone Stadium.

Clear goals for Junior Bok Women’s final clash

Junior Springbok Women’s coach Flash Malinga has announced the SA U20 side for their final clash in the R10 African U20 Women’s Series, on Tuesday against Uganda in Stellenbosch.

Lions and WP to host U21 Cup semi-finals

The SA Rugby Under-21 Cup semi-finalists have been confirmed following the conclusion of the league phase over the past weekend, with unbeaten log leaders, the Fidelity ADT Lions, hosting the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Johannesburg on Friday, while the defending champions, DHL Western Province, will take on the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town on Saturday.

SA Rugby 19 Cup semi-finals locked in for Gauteng

The Vodacom Bulls will host the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Pretoria and the Fidelity ADT Lions welcome DHL Western Province to Johannesburg in this coming Friday’s two SA Rugby Under-19 Cup semi-finals.

Full house of wins for SA sides in rewarding weekend

It was a rewarding weekend for South Africa’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams as all four franchises claimed bonus-point victories – two at home and two away – to bag a full house for the local teams.

Proud Janse van Rensburg wants to inspire girls

Libbie Janse van Rensburg is still making history as a player, but the Springbok Women's flyhalf is already being tapped up for a different role in rugby.

Cantwell: Huge value in inaugural U20 series

The value of the Junior Springbok Women playing three tough matches in the R10 African U20 Women’s Series will be realised in coming seasons when the top U20 players progress to the senior ranks, both at provincial and national levels.

Match official appointments to 13 October 2024

Match official appointments for the next few days have been made, with a number of South Africans involved in the various WXV tournaments as the SA Rugby U19 and U21 Cup competitions, as well as the African Rainbow Community Gold Cup reach their semi-finals.

Mabenge, Mdliki named in SA Women squad for Italy

Nomawethu Mabenge (wing) and the uncapped Nombuyekezo Mdliki (prop) have been drafted into the Springbok Women squad as injury replacements and were included in the match-23 for South Africa’s final WXV 2 match, against Italy at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.