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Nienaber, Van Graan have Champions Cup final in their sights
It’s semi-finals weekend in the Champions and Challenge Cup competitions.
And while no South African teams will be involved in the action, there will be plenty of interest in how the teams of two top-notch local coaches perform.
Jacques Nienaber, who coached the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2023 and was also assistant to Rassie Erasmus in 2018 and 2019, has been involved with Ireland’s Leinster since the beginning of the 2023/24 season. moryak.biz
Leinster take on French side Toulon at 4pm on Saturday in the first of the two semi-finals in the top-tier Champions Cup.
RG Snyman is part of the Leinster set-up, but is currently injured, while no South Africans are employed by Toulon.
On Sunday it will be the turn of Johann van Graan, also a former Springbok assistant coach, alongside Heyneke Meyer between 2012 and 2015, to lead his Bath team in the second semi-final against Bordeaux Begles in France (4pm).
Bordeaux-Begles have on their books a few players with SA connections, among them Jean-Luc du Preez, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Tiaan Jacobs, Carlu Sadie and Madosh Tambwe, while Quinn Roux, Thomas du Toit, Bernard van der Linde and Francois van Wyk are registered under Bath for the Champions Cup.
The winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the Champions Cup final in Bilbao on May 23.
The semi-finals of the second tier Challenge Cup competition also take place this weekend.
Ulster welcome Exeter at 6.30pm on Saturday and on Sunday it will be Montpellier who host the Dragons at 1.30pm.
The final of the Challenge Cup will also be held at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, on Friday May 22.
Iwobi ruled out of Arsenal clash
Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi has been ruled out of Fulham’s Premier League fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Super Eagle will not be able to face his former club, after suffering a hamstring injury in the Cottagers’ 0-0 draw with Brentford two weeks ago.
Fulham manager Marco Silva confirmed that Iwobi will miss the team’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.
Iwobi still out
“Alex [Iwobi] is out still, plus Kevin. Kenny [Tete], we will have to see how he reacts from the last two sessions. He can probably be involved in the game,” Silva told the club’s official website.
“We have some doubts on some players, but we will assess them tomorrow to see how they react from things that happened in the week.”
Iwobi began career at Arsenal
Iwobi began his career at Arsenal, with whom he won the FA Cup in 2017 and finished as runner-up for the EFL Cup in 2018 and UEFA Europa League in 2019.
In 2019, Iwobi transferred to Everton, and in 2023 he joined Fulham. Iwobi represented England up to U-18 level.
He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015, and was part of their squads at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 (finishing third), 2021, 2023 (being runner-up) and 2025 (finishing third).
Man United : Onana sur le départ, voici le nouveau gardien dans la ligne de mire !
Man United : Onana sur le départ, voici le nouveau gardien dans la ligne de mire ! Manchester United est en pleine reconstruction. En difficulté ces dernières saison, la direction a du prendre des décision s drastiques pour essayer de trouver un équilibre. Les recreux n’ont pas toujours donné satisfaction. C’est le cas d’André Onana
L’article Man United : Onana sur le départ, voici le nouveau gardien dans la ligne de mire ! est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.
Hansen offers his advice on Kiwi player drain
Legendary coach Steve Hansen says New Zealand rugby must come to terms with the steady flow of players heading overseas.
A number of high-profile names are set to leave at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, and the former All Blacks boss describes it as an unavoidable reality of the modern game.
“Well, we have to understand and accept that’s what could happen because it is happening. So, it’s a reality [that players are leaving],” Hansen told Martin Devlin on the DSPN Podcast.
New Zealand have already lost the services of the likes of Mark Tele’a, Tom Christie and Sam Gilbert, while Dalton Papali’i, Sevu Reece, Fehi Fineanganofo and Hoskins Sotutu are all set to leave at the end of the current domestic season.
ALSO: Hansen rejects Rassie copycat approach
More players will seek out lucrative opportunities abroad after next year’s Rugby World Cup, yet a philosophical Hansen noted: “What are we going to do about it? We’ve just got to make sure that we keep developing enough players for our own market as well.”
He believes strengthening the country’s development structures is key to sustaining long-term success.
“The train will stop if we don’t keep working hard underneath it,” he said.
“There’s enough understanding to know that we probably aren’t doing as good a job down there at the moment as we could be. But they are looking at that and they will find a way.
ALSO: URC club sign Crusaders star
“Young people need to know that they’ve got a chance; otherwise, they’ll take the other chances that they’re being offered,” Hansen added.
“We’ve got to make it an environment where everyone wants to be in it, and they’ll stay and fight for it,” he said.
“It’s about making the jersey so exciting, making wanting to play for the All Blacks an exciting thing.”
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The post Hansen offers his advice on Kiwi player drain appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Elite One : voici les résultats complets de la seizième journée
Le rideau est tombé sur la 16e journée de la Mtn Elite One. Les 14 clubs en lice connaissent des fortunes diverses. Unisport du Haut Nkam est imprenable depuis le début de cette saison. En effet, le flambeau de l’ouest a enchaîné un troisième match sans défaite. Après la victoire face à Victoria United, les
L’article Elite One : voici les résultats complets de la seizième journée est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.