Front Row Rugby

Johan Ackermann made his Springbok debut in 1996. A combination of injury and a failed anti-doping test wrecked his career. But Johan showed great resilience and was back in the famous green and gold jersey in 2001. Yet again injury struck. Ackermann again showed tremendous courage to fight back and again represented his country in 2006 and 2007. In this exclusive interview, Johan shares his journey, the highs and the lows and everything in between. This podcast originates from the Front Row Rugby YouTube Channel.

You've heard the saying "Hulle Weet Nie Wat Ons Weet Nie" and that plays perfectly into the Springbok Siege mentality. Nothing pours fuel onto to South African fire like being the underdog. Similarly South Africans truly spring into action when we feel as if the world hates us. And unwittingly online trolls are fueling this fire. In this episode Peter delves into the South African psyche and explains why as long as this disdain of the Springboks from the international community, real or imagined, persists, it is going to be bad news for the Springboks' rivals. This podcast originates from the Front Row Rugby YouTube Channel.

South Africa were kicked out of Super Rugby during Covid-19. This forced SARU to take our franchises north to join what would become the United Rugby Championship, or the URC. And in this episode, shot on location at The Scoin Shop in Bedford Centre, Peter explains exactly how this has proven to be a commercial masterstroke for South African rugby ... and why it will benefit the Springboks in the long run too. This podcast originates from the Front Row Rugby YouTube Channel.

The Springboks have completed a highly successful 2025 where they have made even more history by winning back-to-back Rugby Championship titles as well as going five from five on an end-of-year tour for the first time since 1997. Further to that they have also retained the Freedom Cup, Mandela Cup and Qatar Airways as well as making it consecutive unbeaten end-of-year tours for the first time since 1996/97. In this episode Peter looks back at an incredible 2025, relives the highs and (very few) lows, and tries to rate who the best players this season were - if there is even one man who can genuinely stand out, in what was a phenomenal year for the world champion Springboks. This podcast originates from the Front Row Rugby YouTube Channel.

South Africa have bid unsuccessfully for the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. World Rugby's own committee even recommended South Africa as the preferred host for 2023 and they still snubbed us. So what will it take for the Springboks to play a Rugby World Cup in front of their own fans again? This podcast originates from the Front Row Rugby YouTube Channel.