Dylan Jack

Makazole Mapimpi of the Sharks attempts to get past Josh Lewis of the Dragons tackle during the United Rugby Championship 2021/22 match between the Sharks and Dragons held at Kings Park in Durban on 01 April 2022 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Numbers that matter: Dragons vs Sharks

Having ended a six-game losing streak in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Dragons will look to avenge last season’s heavy defeat by the Sharks on Saturday.

of Edinburgh scoring his try during the United Rugby Championship 2022/23 match between Bulls and Edinburgh held at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, South Africa on 24 September 2022

Watch: Darcy a danger as Edinburgh hunt Stormers scalp

Edinburgh speedster Darcy Graham has the DHL Stormers in his sights after scoring a hat-trick against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria.

Damon Murphy (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Australia the testing ground for bid to speed up rugby

A host of new law trials aimed at speeding up the game will be introduced at two Queensland Reds matches in Australia.

Back three key to Stormers success

Playing an expansive style of rugby, the Stormers’ success in the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship season relied heavily on the guile of their back three with ball in hand.

STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 24: Bundee Aki of Connacht receives a red card form Referee, Gianluca Gnecchi of Italy during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Connacht at Danie Craven Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Henning: Refs need to clamp down on dissent

Referee boss Tappe Henning says Vodacom United Rugby Championship match officials should deal harshly with any forms of dissent that can bring the game into disrepute.

Bundee Aki of Connacht is given a red card by referee Gianluca Gnecchi during the United Rugby Championship 2022/23 game between Stormers and Connacht at Danie Craven in Stellenbosch on 24 September 2022

Aki ‘extremely apologetic’, ‘damaging’ Irish career

Irish international Bundee Aki has reportedly apologised to his Connacht teammates for his red-card challenge against the DHL Stormers in Stellenbosch.

epa07967045 Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa (C) celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama, Japan, 02 November 2019. EPA/MARK R. CRISTINO EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ NO COMMERCIAL SALES / NOT USED IN ASSOCATION WITH ANY COMMERCIAL ENTITY

Kolbe tips France as Rugby World Cup ‘favourites’

The Springboks’ World Cup-winning wing Cheslin Kolbe says France are the “favourites” for next year’s competition.

Eddie reveals England’s unlikely World Cup inspiration

Eddie Jones says the US Special Forces mission to kill Osama Bin Laden is providing him with inspiration to make England more resilient to challenges they will face at the 2023 World Cup.

Owens gets new URC role

Former Test referee Nigel Owens has returned to rugby in an important new role to help the standard of officiating in the @Vodacom United Rugby Championship. #URC

WORCESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: The gates are padlocked, at the Sixways Stadium, home of Worcester Warriors, on September 26, 2022 in Worcester, England.

Worcester placed in administration, suspended by RFU

English Premiership side Worcester are set to be placed into administration after they were suspended from all competitions by the Rugby Football Union on Monday for failing to meet a funding ultimatum.