SATURDAY sees the culmination of the domestic competitions in this part of the world with the Magners League, Guinness Premiership and the French Top 14 championship all up for grabs.

IT WON’T happen too often, so you might as well make a note of it – four Irish-based players in front row action for a Test against a southern hemisphere side.

SO there we were sipping coffee in the Burlington Hotel lobby yesterday, waiting for the Springbok press conference to start. Wondering if we had the hotel right.

South Africa lock Bakkies Botha is ready to meet renowned Argentina aggression head on in Sunday's World Cup semi-final at Stade de France.

THERE’S a school of thought which suggests the word honcho derives from the Basque term jauntxo, which means boss man.

South Africa’s former golden boot Naas Botha believes the decision-making of the Springbok half-backs will be key to the outcome of Saturday’s Mandela Challenge against Australia at Ellis Park.

Harlequins’ swoop for Geo Cronje looks to have hit a stumbling block after it emerged the controversial Springbok second row is apparently still under contract with the Blue Bulls.

Ulster's former Springbok back row forward Robbie Brink has been forced to retire from rugby because of a troublesome shoulder injury.