Match Results and Highlights
Griquas delivered another strong performance against Western Province in the Currie Cup on Friday, securing a convincing 47–17 victory. This marks their eighth consecutive win over WP—a streak that seems to be weighing heavily on the Cape Town side. The visitors ran in seven tries, while Western Province managed only three. George Whitehead's boot was nearly perfect, slotting six conversions with clinical precision. For WP, the loss compounds their struggles, making it three defeats in a row—a concerning trend for a team that usually expects better results.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand's Bunnings NPC, Northland scraped past Southland 22–17 in a tense encounter. The game remained tight throughout, but Northland found just enough momentum in the second half to pull ahead and claim the bonus-point win. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but they did what was necessary to get the result. Southland will likely rue missed opportunities, as they were in the contest until the final whistle.
Player and Team News
Newcastle Falcons have secured the services of Amanaki Mafi, the Japan international loose forward, on a one-year deal. At 35, Mafi brings a wealth of experience from stints with Bath, the Melbourne Rebels, and the Sunwolves. His physicality in carrying and offloading is seen as a key asset for the Falcons. Steve Diamond, the club's director, described him as a major acquisition for the squad.
Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs have finalized a long-term agreement with Joseph Dweba, the Springbok hooker, set to join ahead of the 2025/26 season. The 29-year-old, who has represented South Africa and played for the Stormers and Bordeaux Bègles, is expected to bring both international pedigree and a dynamic edge to the team. Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director, highlighted how Dweba’s presence will strengthen their setup.
Charlotte Caslick, the former Olympic sevens standout, won’t be available for Australia’s first match in the Women’s Rugby World Cup. She picked up an ankle injury during a game in July, which sidelines her for the opener against Samoa.
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has decided to keep her in the squad anyway, holding out hope she’ll recover in time. Caslick herself seems determined to make it back for their next Pool A fixture against the USA on August 30.
It’s a tough blow, but the team seems willing to wait and see how her recovery progresses.
Tournament and League Updates
The 2025 Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere is taking shape as South Africa and Australia have announced their squads for the upcoming Tests. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up 37 players for the two matches against Australia—first in Johannesburg on August 16, followed by Cape Town on August 23. There are a couple of notable absences: Bath prop Thomas du Toit is being rested for two weeks under an agreement with Premiership Rugby, though he could still be called upon if needed, while No. 8 Jasper Wiese is out due to suspension.
On the Australian side, coach Joe Schmidt has named a 35-man touring squad. The selection includes some familiar faces, with veteran lock Will Skelton and scrum-half Nic White—who has reversed his retirement decision—making a return. Their experience could be crucial for the Wallabies. Captain James O’Connor has also been included, despite seeing limited action during the recent Lions tour.
The contrasting squad dynamics between the two teams add an interesting layer to the upcoming fixtures. South Africa will be looking to capitalize on home advantage, while Australia will hope their returning veterans can steady the ship.
Scotland revealed their 32-player squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup on August 7. Rachel Malcolm will captain the side, which features 18 forwards and 14 backs. Wing Hannah Walker is the only uncapped player in the group. They’ve been drawn in Pool B alongside Wales, Fiji, and Canada. It’s worth noting that sisters Elliann and Rhea Clarke both made the cut, marking the first time Scottish sisters will play in the same World Cup. Their opening match against Wales is set for August 23 in Salford.
Meanwhile, Major League Rugby in North America continues to face instability. The Miami Sharks abruptly exited the competition, leaving just eight teams. This comes after NOLA Gold’s recent departure and the merger of San Diego Legion with LA Golden Rams into a single California-based team for 2026. League commissioner Nic Benson insists MLR can operate with seven teams, but these developments have understandably sparked worries about the league’s future. The situation feels increasingly precarious for North America’s top rugby competition.
Administrative, Rules, and Officiating Matters
World Rugby’s decision to expand the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup to 24 teams has drawn mixed reactions, but CEO Alan Gilpin remains firm in his stance. He acknowledged concerns about potential mismatches but pointed to Portugal’s strong performances against higher-ranked teams in 2023 as evidence that emerging nations can compete. Gilpin argued that introducing a Round of 16 and including more developing rugby nations would help grow the sport globally—even if some games end up being one-sided.
Meanwhile, World Rugby has finalized the refereeing lineup for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The panel consists of 22 officials from 12 countries, including 10 referees, 6 assistant referees, and 6 TMOs. Notable names like Sara Cox from England and Aimee Barrett-Theron from South Africa highlight the depth of experience among the selected officials. The move reflects the organization’s commitment to maintaining high standards in women’s rugby officiation.
The recent Lions tour has left some lingering concerns about officiating, particularly around TMO decisions. During the third Test against the Wallabies, Lions hooker Dan Sheehan was later cited for a dangerous shoulder charge on Tom Lynagh—a clear foul that somehow slipped past Marius Jonker, the TMO on duty.
Footage of the incident circulated widely online, sparking debate over whether the current review system is reliable enough for high-stakes matches. It’s not just about missing a single call—it raises broader questions about consistency and accountability in officiating. When a mistake like this happens in such a visible game, people rightly start asking whether the process needs tightening up.
The whole thing leaves a sour taste. Players, fans, and even pundits expect better—especially when technology is supposed to help avoid these kinds of oversights. If the system can’t catch something that obvious, what else is slipping through?