Bordeaux confirm worst fears over Bok centre

Bordeaux Bègles have confirmed the full extent of Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s injury.

The one-cap Springbok centre limped off barely a minute after coming off the bench in the 50th minute of Bordeaux’s 64-14 dismantling of the Leicester Tigers in their Investec Champions Cup last-16 clash.

The 31-year-old was in clear distress as he was assisted from the field and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches.

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In a statement, Bordeaux confirmed: “Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s season has come to a premature end due to a ruptured achilles tendon sustained when he came on as a substitute against the Leicester Tigers last Sunday.

“Rohan will have participated in 19 matches during this 2025-26 season,” the club added. “We wish him a speedy recovery and a successful rehabilitation!”

ALSO: Heartbreak fuels Toulouse revenge mission

The injury comes at a difficult time for Bordeaux, who are already without France centre Nicolas Depoortere due to a shoulder injury.

Bordeaux host Toulouse in a blockbuster quarter-final on Sunday.

Photo: James Crombie/INPHO

The post Bordeaux confirm worst fears over Bok centre appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka says last season’s painful Investec Champions Cup exit still burns.

The French giants, however, are ready to settle the score against in Sunday’s quarter-final against Bordeaux-Bègles.

Mauvaka missed that dramatic encounter through injury – along with superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont – as Bordeaux stunned the six-time champions on their way to a maiden European crown.

MORE: SA coaches engineering European success

“We weren’t lucky enough to play that match,” Mauvaka told AFP. “Seeing your mates losing that semi-final, it was heart-breaking for us. We can’t wait for this weekend.”

Both sides booked their places in the quarter-finals in emphatic fashion. Toulouse hammered the Bristol Bears in the last 16, while Bordeaux followed up by thrashing the Leicester Tigers a day later.

The rivalry between the two clubs has intensified in recent seasons, with Toulouse lifting the Champions Cup in 2024 before Bordeaux claimed the title a year later.

Bordeaux also had the upper hand in their most recent meeting, running out 44-20 winners in the Top 14 last month.

ALSO: Ex-Bok Sowerby highlights Woki threat

While the spotlight will inevitably fall on attacking stars such as Dupont and Bordeaux flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Mauvaka believes the real battle will be decided up front.

“The game at their place three weeks ago, the score was heavy but if you watch the game in details, there was a battle up front,” he said. “Especially in the first half. We blew up a bit in the second half.

“It’s part of the work we have to do, to stay in the game, it promises to be war.”

ALSO: Thomas the Tank leads SA’s Champions Cup charge

Elsewhere, the Northampton Saints travel to face Johann van Graan’s Bath in the first all-English Champions Cup quarter-final since 2020.

Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson welcomed the clash between two Premiership heavyweights.

“I think it’s good for the game,” said Dowson. “It’s good for the Saints to be in that position, to be mixing it on these stages.

“We know the power of Bath as a club and that’s something that we enjoy competing with.”

MORE: Champions Cup Team of the Week (Round of 16)

Meanwhile, Toulon will travel to face the Glasgow Warriors without veteran centre Ma’a Nonu, who has been banned for three weeks following a high tackle in last weekend’s win over the Stormers.

Four-time champions Leinster host Sale Sharks as they chase a sixth straight Champions Cup semi-final appearance.

MORE: Champions Cup quarter-finals – Match-by-match guide

Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals (SA times)
Friday, 10 April
Bath vs Northampton Saints (9pm)
Saturday, 11 April
Glasgow Warriors vs Toulon (4pm)
Leinster vs Sale Sharks (6:30pm)
Sunday, 12 April
Bordeaux Bègles vs Toulouse (4pm)

– AFP

The post Heartbreak fuels Toulouse revenge mission appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

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Simba SC coach Steve Barker has challenged his players to play for 90 and added minutes without tiring insisting that will help them to challenge for targets this season.

Speaking ahead of their Mainland Premier League fixture against TRA United at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha on Thursday, the South African coach, who had just been crowned coach of the month for March, stressed the importance of remaining compact in a game.

Kazini tena. #NBCPremierLeague #NguvuMoja pic.twitter.com/n3sEUH9MRc

— Simba Sports Club (@SimbaSCTanzania) April 8, 2026

He further discussed the importance of keeping a clean sheet. Since his arrival to take charge at Msimbazi, Simba have only conceded three league goals.

Simba wants to be difficult to beat

“I cannot speak for the very first part of the season, but since I have been here, I think we have only conceded three goals,” Barker told Pan-Africa Football.

“It’s an area where a lot of football matches are normally won at the latter stages of the game, so, it is an area we want to keep improving, we want to be a team that is difficult to beat, a team that doesn’t allow opposition many opportunities.

“So, we have to start the game well, but the most important part is to make sure we continue the same way until the end.”

Barker added: “You know, obviously, a match is not won in 45 minutes, but it is won over 90 added minutes, and, so, it is about focus, it’s about concentration, and it is about just making sure we remain compact in situations.

“So, yeah, it is important we see out the game, and don’t concede at crucial moments.”

TRA United worried of league position

TRA United assistant coach Kassim Otieno said with the preparations they have made, they believe they will secure victory against Simba.

“We know the importance of the game. We know our position in the league is not good so far and we have to move up. We have made good preparations and we want to do everything to win the game,” said Otieno.

Simba will head into the fixture seeking to win having seen their rivals Young Africans secure a comfortable 3-0 win against Pamba Jiji to move nine points clear at the summit of the 16-team league table.

Simba are currently second with 35 points from 16 matches, while TRA United are placed eighth with 23 points from 17 outings.

Kaizer Chiefs are reportedly looking at several options abroad to bolster their dwindling defensive options.

Kaizer Chiefs target Mabuza

Local reports suggest that 25-year-old defender Mhleli Mabuza is top of Chiefs’ shopping list.

Via Soccer Laduma:

“The club is once again looking at bringing in Mhleli. They want him back. He trained with the team in the pre-season; unfortunately, the coaches were not impressed at that time.

“He went back to Portugal, where he signed a 1-year contract with Amora SAD because there was still hope of him coming back to Chiefs, and that’s why they have reignited the interest in him. But apparently, everything will be decided at the end of the season,” the insider informed Soccer Laduma.

In January, Mabuza signed with Portuguese side O Elvas on a short-term deal which expires in June.

Chiefs aim to continue their winning run

Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal down to beat Orbit College 3-1 on Easter Monday. Wandile Duba equalised in the dying minutes of the first half after Mbulelo Wagaba had given the hosts the lead, before second-half goals from Mduduzi Shabalala and Siphesihle Ndlovu secured three points for Amakhosi. They now sit third in the league with 39 points from 21 matches.

• Sun, 12 Apr: Chiefs vs TS Galaxy
• Wed, 15 Apr: Magesi vs Chiefs
• Sat, 18 Apr: Polokwane vs Chiefs
• Sun, 26 Apr: Pirates vs Chiefs
• Tue, 28 Apr: Siwelele vs Chiefs
• Wed, 6 May: Sundowns vs Chiefs
• Sun, 10 May: Sekhukhune vs Chiefs
• Sat, 16 May: AmaZulu vs Chiefs
• Sat, 23 May: Chiefs vs Chippa

Lors de sa visite au pays des Lions de la Teranga qui se sont vus retirer leur titre de champion d'Afrique par le jury d’appel de la Confédération africaine de football (CAF) le 17 mars dernier, son président a cherché à calmer le jeu, mercredi 8 avril. Se disant préoccupé par le sort des 18 supporters sénégalais toujours emprisonnés au Maroc après la finale explosive du 18 janvier, Patrice Motsepe s'est aussi montré ouvert à toute forme d'enquête pour soupçon de corruption au sein de son institution.