Aden da Costa, an 18-year-old rugby standout from Wynberg Boys High, is garnering attention for his impressive skills and work ethic. Acknowledging the challenges of transitioning to professional rugby, he values his family’s support and aims to excel in age-group competitions and ultimately join the senior Currie Cup and Stormers teams.… Read More Aden da Costa – From Wynberg Star to Rugby’s Bright Future
2024 was the year The Grandstand got called up from under-16 scribbles shared among friends to First XV status, with some pieces racking up over 5,000 views. It’s been a year of unforgettable moments—from the electric atmosphere of the Sanlam Boland Top 12 to celebrating Springbok brilliance, highlighting talents like Kade Wolhuter, and diving into… Read More From Scribbles to Game-Changers: 2024 Through The Grandstand’s Eyes
Maybe it’s the shared hometown pride, or maybe it’s the sheer audacity of becoming a Springbok while donning the Falcons jersey—an unheard-of feat in the modern era. But the Ghost of Christmas Past has been busy, replaying highlights of Adrian Jacobs: a trailblazing centre with fleet feet, silky hands, and a knack for the spectacular.… Read More From Falcons to Glory: The Adrian Jacobs Story
It’s like office Secret Santa, but your colleague gets you a Playstation 5. Such is the impact with which Kade Wolhuter has been sliding his exceptional gifts and talents under the Springbok Christmas tree. Stringing together another impressive performance for the Lions against Pau this weekend, Wolhuter showcased that while the Springbok pecking order for… Read More Jumping the Queue: Why Kade Wolhuter Is the Flyhalf You Need to Watch
“I love it when a plan comes together.” That must have been the thought running through coach Phillip Snyman’s mind as his A-Team Blitzboks finally delivered the performance they’ve been brewing for months. Against the iconic backdrop of Table Mountain and in front of South African fans six beers deep (an atmosphere worth the ticket… Read More From Frustration to Elation: Blitzboks Turn the Tide with Cape Town Triumph
It’s been a sizzling week for SARU president Mark Alexander— grilled harder than a Nando’s hot peri-peri chicken by both the media and a parliamentary committee over the proposed equity deal with Ackerley Sports Group. The R1.3 billion deal, which would see a 20% stake in SA Rugby’s commercial rights sold to the American private… Read More Boks and Bucks: What the Ackerley Deal Means for Fans and the Future
While the glitter makes the art project, it’s the glue that holds it all together. In a Stormers team that has often looked like too much glitter and not enough glue this season, Ali Vermaak’s return must have felt like a fresh tube of Bostik. On Saturday, alongside Neethling Fouché and Joseph Dweba, the front… Read More Bostik and Backlines: How Stormers’ Front Row Can Dominate Toulon
The Sanlam Boland Top 12 Final is King of the Club Rugby jungle The iconic scene where Mufasa presents Simba to the kingdom feels like the perfect metaphor for what unfolded at Boland Stadium yesterday. Over 10,000 fans packed the stands, with 65,000 more streaming on YouTube and a televised broadcast on Supersport Schools ensuring… Read More Rugby’s Pride Rock
What the Sanlam Boland Top 12 teaches us about growing the game If rugby has a branding problem, the club game—specifically the Sanlam Boland Top 12—is walking around with the branding iron. Picture this: a packed stadium, fans draped in club colors, vendors selling boerewors rolls, and the sound of rugby boots thundering on Boland… Read More Rugby Reimagined
In rugby, the flyhalf isn’t just a playmaker; he’s the guy who makes his team believe. Cue Al Pacino’s line from Any Given Sunday: ‘It’s the guy everybody’s looking at first—the leader of a team—who makes you believe.’ This weekend, it’s Manie Libbok and Marcus Smith who’ll be in the spotlight, each looking to inspire… Read More Libbok vs. Smith: The Flyhalf Battle That Could Define the Springboks vs. England Showdown
