Rugby Scoop

This week on The Rugby Scoop Pod: 
Stormers loose forward Ruan Ackermann has been suspended for a dangerous cleanout against Leinster (3 match ban)
The Stormers have ended their pursuit of Argentina lock Tomás Lavanini. - “We would rather put our faith in the local guys like Connor Evans, [Junior Boks captain] Riley Norton and Gary Porter, who are full-blooded Stormers,” - Dobson
Hurricanes scrumhalf Cam Roigard has come under fire for his actions during Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Blues.
Rassie Erasmus has revealed the objectives for the South Africa A game against Zimbabwe next weekend as SA Rugby looks to ‘capture’ top Junior Springboks talents.
Also, Vickers are you happy with the squad? We know Bulls players will join after this coming weekend
Congratulations to Mzwandile Stick on leading the SA A side
NZR announce Tony Brown as Allblacks assistant coach for 2028 and beyond - who can replace Tony? We know some wanted him to leave
Lalakai Foketi joins the Ospreys
Rassie says flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, ‌would be ready six weeks before the first of four tests against New Zealand on August 22, as would be his ‌usual halfback partner Cobus Reinach.
Congratulations to the Knicks, winning the NBA after 53 loooooooong and grilling years. Spike Lee & Ben Stiller must be so happy
Farrell said he expected Lowe and centre Bundee Aki to sign new contracts.

But while Aki agreed a new one-year deal to stay with Connacht, Lowe is set to leave when his contract expires this summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Japan's Suntory Sungoliath.
Moving to Japan would halt his Ireland career a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Australia given the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)'s policy of not selecting players based outside of Ireland.
So James Lowe is retiring from International Rugby
Last topic before we jump on the games: Hurricanes have scored 100 tries this season. And they’ve done it in 16 games - is Super Rugby the T20 of rugby?
Topics:
Premiership: Joseph Dweba will be in the Premiership finals
Bath choked this season? With everything they did last season, everyone expected more from them. This season they finish with 0 silverware
On Bath - 4 mins 29 seconds ball in play 40+ phases and to be held up over the goal line
Super Rugby Semifinals: Chiefs rip through the Crusaders
Hurricanes second half performance - all this talk about Segner, he was absent last night
Bulls / Leinster Preview: Last Dance for James Lowe. Do we genuinely believe Bulls can upset Leinster in front of 60k Irish fans

News:
Rassie Erasmus has named a 51-man Springbok squad for a season-opening double-header in Gqeberha. 21 uncapped players included in the squad
Aphelele Fassi has been granted a sabbatical by the Sharks to play in Japan and will return to Durban in June next year.
Bordeaux have signed two young players from South Africa - Benjamin Coetzee and Diaan Augustyn on junior contracts
Embrose Papier, has a contract with the Bulls until 2027, however The Sharks in Durban have offered to pay a fee to release him early - Sharks desperate?
Ardie Savea and Dave Rennie are Japanese League one winners
Stormers head coach has apologised to Leinster and Leo Cullen for Ruan Ackermann's red card

double World Cup-winning centre Damian de Allende could also make his way back to the Mother City.

Ivan van Rooyen admitted the Lions were taught a harsh lesson by Leinster after their 59-10 defeat in Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final in Dublin
Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injured his ankle in the act of scoring a second-half try and was walking with crutches after the match,
Ruan Jacobs will be the Sharks’ new talent recruiter.
Ruan Venter’s knee injury has messed up Rassie Erasmus’ plans to use him at No 4 lock for the Springboks.
Lions and Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has little appetite to challenge the ruling that will keep him sidelined until November 2027.
Former Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies is reportedly being pursued by both Sars and creditors over unpaid debts.
New Zealand Rugby has reportedly intervened with Hurricane Fehi Fineanganofo’s Newcastle Red Bulls negotiations in hopes of keeping the star winger on home shores.

News:
Cheslin Kolbe on the verge of returning to the Stormers.
Embrose Papier in Bok alignment camp
The Sharks are attempting to bring Sanele Nohamba back to Durban.
Tòmas Lavanini is expected to arrive in Cape Town in December once his international commitments with Argentina are complete
Sebastian Vermeulen - the Tallest school boy has signed with the Sharks
Super Rugby’s next partnership will be with Japan

🎙️ Rugby Scoop – This Week’s Episode
📰 News Round-Up
 🇪🇸 Spain bids for 2035 Rugby World Cup
The Spanish Rugby Federation has officially launched its bid—huge moment for Tier 2 growth and European expansion. 
 🤕 JD Schickerling ruled out for 6 months
Serious knee injury vs Connacht—big blow to depth and physicality. 
 🏆 England national rugby union team 62–24 Wales national rugby union team
England seal the Triple Crown and extend their ridiculous winning run…
👉 The question: who actually stops them right now?
 💰 Rugby Australia posts $70M+ surplus
Massive turnaround driven by the British & Irish Lions Tour revenue. 
 🎌 Bernard Foley to retire
End of an era—one of the Wallabies’ most composed playmakers calls time after Japan. 
 🌍 U20 Rugby Championship kicks off
Opening fixtures:  🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇦🇺 Australia 
 🇿🇦 South Africa vs 🇦🇷 Argentina 

🔥 Main Topics & Talking Points
🦈 URC Drama – Sharks Decision at 79:30

7
 Score: 26–33
 Time: 79:30
 Sharks take the 2 points… but was that the right call? 
💬 Debate:
 Kick = guaranteed points but game over 
 Restart = chaos, pressure, chance to draw or win
👉 This is a classic risk vs reward moment—do elite teams back themselves more?
🔴 Munster’s Resurgence – Real or Flash?

8
Back-to-back 40+ point performances 👀
 Are Munster Rugby peaking at the right time? 
 Or are we overhyping a late-season surge? 
👉 Suddenly looking like a serious playoff threat again.
🌊 Stormers Statement Win

6
Stormers bounce back 
 Beat a strong Glasgow Warriors side convincingly 
💬 Are Stormers building toward another title push?
🤔 Dobson’s Willemse Call
Damian Willemse on the wing? 
John Dobson explanation raises eyebrows 
👉 Tactical flexibility or overthinking it?
👶 Marcus “Miller” Debut
 First cap buzz—early signs of a player to watch
 👉 Worth keeping an eye on development trajectory 
🔵 Bulls Edge a Tight One

5
Bulls sneak past Scarlets
Johan Goosen Pollock (Pollock) slots 18 points
💬 Question:
 👉 Do Bulls have enough to go beyond the quarter-finals?
🔵 Leinster Slip Up
Leinster Rugby losing last night 👀
 👉 Blip… or cracks showing before knockout rugby? 
🌏 Super Round – Christchurch

7
 Big event energy 
 Does Super Round actually add value, or just scheduling chaos? 
🏆 Investec Champions Cup Semi-Finals
Leinster Rugby vs RC Toulon (Ireland) 
Union Bordeaux Bègles vs Bath Rugby
👉 Bath coming off a loss to Northampton Saints… momentum swing?
🎯 Closing Hook for the Episode
 Can anyone stop England right now? 
 Are Munster and Stormers peaking at the perfect time? 
 And did the Sharks bottle that final decision… or play it smart?