While most of the focus is currently on the Rugby World Cup in France, the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season gets under way this weekend.
As Covid-19 ravages the Springboks camp, who can the South Africans turn to as the Lions series looms?
The British and Irish Lions kick off their tour to South Africa with a match against namesakes the Sigma Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has opted to push some of the younger players into the frontline against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.
Thirty-two capped Springboks – 13 of whom were part of the Rugby World Cup-winning squad in Japan a year ago.
While it is hard to perfectly describe what an ideal outside centre looks like, there are still expectations and requirements among different rugby cultures.
Montpellier's lead at the summit was cut to three points after they went down at Agen and Racing 92 defeated struggling Brive.
If you wanted evidence of the increasing size of players entering the ranks of professional rugby, you don't have to go to far. The World Rugby U20 Championship which is currently being played out in Georgia has some giant specimens on show.
