BBC Rugby Union: Weekend Wrap-Up – URC and Super Rugby Pacific Finalists Shine, Irish Giants Stumble
It was an eventful weekend in the world of rugby union, with several teams and players making headlines for their standout performances. Let’s dive into the key talking points from the latest round of action.
The Bulls and Glasgow Warriors have booked their place in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final after notching deserved victories over heavyweight Irish provinces Leinster and Munster, respectively. The Bulls’ 25-20 win over Leinster at Loftus Versfeld and Glasgow’s shock 17-10 triumph over defending champions Munster at Thomond Park have set the stage for a mouthwatering clash in Pretoria next Saturday.
Amidst the Bulls’ team effort, young back-row Cameron Hanekom delivered a statement performance, gaining 83 attacking metres and making 17 tackles. The front-row trio of Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, and Gerhard Steenekamp also shone for the winning side. These displays are sure to have the Springbok selectors taking notice.
Across the Tasman, the Blues and Chiefs have booked their spots in the Super Rugby Pacific final. The Blues’ 34-20 victory over the Brumbies was well-deserved, while the Chiefs sealed a 30-19 win over the Hurricanes. Blues number eight Hoskins Sotutu deserves special praise, as his try-scoring exploits have seen him equal the tournament record for tries scored by a forward.
It was a weekend to forget for Irish rugby giants Leinster and Munster, who were knocked out of the URC semi-finals. Leinster’s latest defeat means they have now gone three seasons without a trophy, while Munster’s 10-match winning run in the URC came to a crashing halt against Glasgow.
Elsewhere, the Rugby Football Union has approved a promotion play-off system for the Premiership from the 2025/2026 season, which will be welcome news for clubs in the Championship.
However, there was bad news for Rugby Australia, as promising Wallabies fly-half Carter Gordon has decided to join NRL outfit the Gold Coast Titans, the latest high-profile player to make the switch to the 13-man code.
The Springboks have also been hit with a double blow on the wing, with Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse set to miss the upcoming mid-year Tests, while Willie le Roux’s injury adds further concern to their back-three stocks.
Overall, it was a weekend filled with high drama, as new champions emerged and some established heavyweights stumbled, setting the stage for an enthralling finale to the domestic rugby season.
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