Frans waiting on Rassie’s call over Faf

The Cheetahs remain uncertain whether they will have the services of Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk for the Currie Cup.

De Klerk recently signed a two-year deal with the Free State outfit and has already spent time training with the squad, but Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn admits his availability could depend on Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ plans.

With Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams and Morné van den Berg among the scrumhalves currently battling injuries, the Springboks are facing a shortage of experienced options ahead of the international season. zeppelin.cool

“I don’t know what Rassie’s plans are,” Steyn said. “A guy must wait and see what happens there and whether we’ll have him for the Currie Cup. I don’t know that either.

“There are a lot of injuries at scrumhalf. It would be great to have him here as soon as possible, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Despite the uncertainty, Steyn has already seen the influence De Klerk can have on the squad.

“He immediately came in and started helping the nines and 10s,” said Steyn. “He got involved straight away and I think it’s going to be very good for our team with him, Jaco van der Walt, Marco Jansen van Vuren and Rewan Kruger around.

“We can make the younger guys better with the experience we now have in the group.”

MORE: Cheetahs face Portuguese challenge

Steyn added that De Klerk is unlikely to feature immediately in the Toyota Challenge, which begins on Friday when the Cheetahs face Portuguese side Lusitanos.

Lusitanos are, in effect, a Portugal A side and feature six players who were part of Portugal’s squad for the historic Test against the Springboks in Bloemfontein in July 2024.

Toyota Challenge fixtures
Friday, 5 June
1:30pm: Pumas vs Black Lion
2:30pm: Griquas vs Romania A
6pm: Cheetahs vs Portugal
Wednesday, 10 June
1:30pm: Griquas vs Black Lion
2:30pm: Pumas vs Portugal
6pm: Cheetahs vs Romania A
Sunday, 14 June
12pm: Griquas vs Portugal
2pm: Pumas vs Romania A
4:30pm: Cheetahs vs Black Lion

Photo: @Canon_Eagles/X

The post Frans waiting on Rassie’s call over Faf appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

World Athletics has officially unveiled its nine-athlete shortlist for the May Athlete of the Month award, highlighting some of the most exceptional track and field performances globally. Among the nominees is South Africa’s own Lythe Pillay, whose standout performance at the World Relay Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, has earned him a well-deserved spot on the list.

Pillay is nominated following his delivery of the fastest 4x400m split in history. His phenomenal run helped anchor the South African quartet to a silver medal and a new African Record. The final in Botswana was a historic event in itself, producing three of the fastest times ever recorded in the discipline. Botswana secured gold with the third-fastest time in history, while South Africa’s silver-medal run now ranks as the fifth-fastest globally. Australia claimed bronze just behind South Africa, logging the sixth-fastest time in history. The enduring world record of 2:54.29, set by the United States in 1993, remains intact.

Pillay faces strong international competition for the May accolade. The nominee shortlist features a diverse array of record-breakers and champions, including the Botswana men’s 4x400m relay team for their historic gold-medal run, and the Australian relay squad, recognized for qualifying all their teams for the upcoming World Championships.

The field is further strengthened by Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer, nominated for setting a world decathlon long jump best of 8.51m; Mexico’s Alegna González, recognized for securing three different race victories on the World Race Walking Tour; and Jamaica’s mixed 4x100m team, who established two world records during the World Relay Championships.

Rounding out the list of elite nominees are American sprinter Masai Russell, who clocked 12.14 seconds for the second-fastest 100m race in history; the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder, who became the first woman in over 14 years to break the 21-metre barrier in the shot put with a throw of 21.09m; and China’s Yan Ziyi, who set a U20 world javelin record with a massive throw of 71.74m.

The athlete ultimately selected for May will join an exclusive group of 2026 monthly award recipients:

• January: Sam Ruthe (New Zealand) – Set a new U18 mile record of 3:48.88.

• February: Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain) – Broke the 800m short track record with a time of 1:54.87.

• March: Simon Ehammer (Switzerland) – Set a new world record of 6670 points in the Heptathlon.

• April: Sebastian Sawe (Kenya) – Broke the two-hour barrier with a world record 1:59.30 at the London Marathon.

The voting process is entirely open to the public, giving athletics fans the final say in determining the winner. For South African supporters wanting to back Pillay’s historic run, the voting window is currently active.

Entries close on the 7th of June, 2026, and are limited to one vote per person. To cast a vote, supporters will need to log into their World Athletics profile (or register a free account if they do not yet have one) via the official voting portal: https://worldathletics.org/worldathletics-plus/athlete-of-the-month

For More South African Sports News: Sport South Africa Home Page

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Athletics (@worldathletics)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sport South Africa (@sportsouthafrica)

The post World Athletics Athlete of the Month: Lythe Pillay Nominated appeared first on South Africa Sports News and Blog Site | South Africa Sport.

Today’s Kaizer Chiefs news looks at the imminent 2026 World Cup, Aden McCarthy’s move and the latest on the future of an Orlando Pirates star.

Mabasa speaks on his future amid Chiefs links

When quizzed on his next move after a loan spell with Stellenbosch, striker Tshegofatso Mabasa has indicated that no concrete decisions have been made. Despite his output of four goals in 14 outings, the Winelands side has said they won’t be signing the 29-year-old permanently.

“That’s not true,” he clarified. “I have not signed with any club at the moment. I can’t comment on the teams that are interested. My agent is handling that.”

McCarthy heads to Azerbaijan, dreams of the Champions League

Aden McCarthy will join Azerbaijani outfit Sabah this month. The 22-year-old has become a fixture of the Chiefs back-line. Now, he joins the Azerbaijani Premier League champions, who will be hopeful of appearing in the Champions League. However, they must do it the hard way, starting with the first qualifying round. If they get into Europe’s premier competition, will McCarthy’s choice to move be justified?

Cross represents Kaizer Chiefs in the Americas, Orlando Pirates dominate

Meanwhile, Hugo Broos has announced his 26-man squad to tackle World Cup Group A in the Americas, which also features Mexico, Czechia and South Korea. Left-sided defender Bradley Cross is the sole Chiefs representative in the 26-man group. Arsenal midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly seems to be an undercover Bafana supporter after rocking the green away jersey. The Gunners teenager was left out of England’s squad, so he’ll have some time on his hands during the tournament.

Final Bafana squad

Goalkeepers

Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss, Sipho Chaine

Defenders

Khuliso Mudau, Thabang Matuludi, Khulumani Ndamane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Ime Okon, Aubrey Modiba, Samukelo Kabini, Bradley Cross, Olwethu Makhanya, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Midfielders

Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Thalente Mbatha, Jayden Adams

Attackers

Lyle Foster, Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa, Tshepang Moremi, Thapelo Maseko

Au moment où l’Algérie s’apprête à défier les Pays-Bas dans l’un de ses derniers tests avant la Coupe du monde 2026, deux joueurs des Verts aborderont ce rendez-vous avec un sentiment particulier. Ramiz Zerrouki et Anis Hadj-Moussa retrouveront un environnement qu’ils connaissent sur le bout des doigts. Pour Zerrouki, ce déplacement à Rotterdam a des allures de retour aux sources. Né à Amsterdam, l’international algérien a grandi dans le football néerlandais. Formé à l’Ajax, il s’est affirmé sous les couleurs du FC Twente avant de rejoindre Feyenoord, l’un des clubs les plus prestigieux du pays.

Son parcours est intimement lié à l’Eredivisie, un championnat dont il maîtrise parfaitement les exigences. Anis Hadj-Moussa n’est pas en reste. Le virevoltant ailier évolue actuellement à Feyenoord et connaît chaque recoin du Stadion Feijenoord, plus célèbre sous le nom de De Kuip. Habituellement porté par les supporters rotterdamois, il tentera cette fois de mettre son expérience locale au service des Verts. Face à une sélection néerlandaise redoutable, les deux hommes disposeront d’un avantage non négligeable : une parfaite connaissance du contexte, de l’ambiance et du football local. Un atout que Vladimir Petkovic espère voir peser dans ce rendez-vous de prestige.

DJAMEL O.

L’article ALG : Zerrouki et Hadj-Moussa «chez eux» à Rotterdam ! est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.

The Glasgow Warriors believe they are perfectly positioned to deny the Vodacom Bulls a place in the URC final when the sides clash at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Franco Smith’s side has become something of a bogey team for the Bulls in recent seasons.

Not only did Glasgow stun Jake White’s men at Loftus Versfeld in the 2024 URC final, they have also beaten Johan Ackermann’s side twice this season – first in the league stage and then in the Investec Champions Cup round-of-16 playoff.

Now the Warriors stand one win away from another final and will enjoy home-ground advantage after finishing top of the URC table, even though the semi will be staged in Edinburgh due to the unavailability of Scotstoun Stadium.

Glasgow attack coach Nigel Carolan believes his side must make the most of the opportunity.

“It’s on us now to cash in on this massive opportunity and it’s a great position against really tough opposition,” he said.

MORE: 150 up for Grobbies as Bulls eye Glasgow upset

The Bulls arrive in Edinburgh carrying momentum after their convincing quarter-final victory over Munster at Loftus, but Carolan expects a fierce physical battle.

“Plan A when you play the Bulls is it’s going to be a man test and there’s no shirking that. If you don’t match it you’re in trouble. They bring a tremendous amount of physicality.”

The Scots, however, are drawing confidence from recent meetings.

“We’ve definitely matched them in that department and then it allows us to play the game we know we can.”

ALSO: Bulls to face Leinster in another Dublin decider

There is also good news on the injury front for Glasgow.

Scotland centre Huw Jones has returned to training, while scrumhalf George Horne is being given every chance to recover from the hand injury he suffered against Connacht.

The post Franco’s Warriors wary of Bulls ‘man test’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.