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International

Ireland set to take on South Africa as tour fixtures announced

By PA
Ireland fans celebrate during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France on September 23, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ireland will play two Tests against the world champion Springboks in South Africa next summer.

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Andy Farrell’s squad face South Africa in Pretoria on July 6 and then in Durban a week later, the South African Rugby Union has announced.

It will be Ireland’s first trip to South Africa since 2016, when they lost a three-Test series 2-1 after winning the opening encounter in Cape Town.

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Since that series, Ireland have beaten the Springboks on three-successive occasions – twice in Dublin and then during the recent Rugby World Cup pool stage in Paris.

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South Africa, meanwhile, will tackle Portugal for the first time on July 20 next year.

Portugal were one of the World Cup’s success stories in France, drawing with Georgia, giving Wales a stern test and ending their campaign by recording a famous 24-23 victory over Fiji.

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Portugal winger Costa Storti lands Top 14 contract after star turn at RWC

After making waves during the Rugby World Cup in France, Portugal winger Raffaele Costa Storti has solidified his future by signing his first professional contract with Stade Français.

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Comments on RugbyPass

u
unknown 23 minutes ago
Watch the Cape Town SVNS and much more live on RugbyPass TV

Why can't I get the Cape Town sevens games?

3 Go to comments
f
fl 59 minutes ago
Saracens player ratings vs Clermont | Investec Champions Cup 2025/26

hmmm ok I was doubtful but maybe Calouri will make the RWC after all

1 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

I doubt it, especially with his brother going the other way.

Someone would need to sign him as the marquee player to make it work financially . . . . which means the team will probably look a little light at 10.



...

252 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

Interesting to see the Sarries line up against Clermont today.

They pretty much played their biggest possible pack - Tizzard, Isiekwe, with McFarland, Willis & Onyaema-Christie.



...

252 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

There’s probably no difference in what the forwards do to control games but the more the SB’s start to trust Tonyball and use that electric backline attack, I think the gulf may increase.

Was Wellington a unique one off, or is that the blueprint for next season?



...

252 Go to comments
P
PMcD 1 hour ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

I thought Borthers looked like “a rabbit in the headlights” during his first few news conferences and it was a bit “politically correct down the line” in his communication strategy, which wasn’t very authentic at the beginning.

I was actually struck by how well he handled the “Tom Curry” incident and how relaxed (and authentic) he came across. There’s definitely a more assured version of Borthers starting to emerge but Woodward trusted Johno to do the talking on the pitch and I think that’s where Steve is starting to evolve towards with Maro. There’s certainly been a step change since he was appointed captain . . . . And we’ve already seen how little Maro values coming 2nd at RWC’s (the medal ceremony).



...

252 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

Dingwall hasn’t played as well at 12 as Atkinson or Ojomoh. Don’t know why you’d drop 2 proven test level players.

In the 2024 six nations Borthwick selected 3 cap Tommy Freeman, 0 cap Feyi-Waboso, and 0 cap Tom Roebuck as the only right wingers in the squad. I think he’s very happy to let 2 (or 3) novices compete for the same job when they are the best players available.



...

252 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 1 hour ago
Wales are out of luck and out of ideas, so where do they go from here?

That's the elephant in the room. The problem won't be Wales trying to identify talent at schools level, it will be keeping the talent on their own pathways and developing them.

A young Welsh player might target the fact they could get senior caps at 20 but why bother. They've been driven into the ground like tent pegs in their last run of games against tier 1’s.



...

10 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
What written judgement said about Alex Mann's role in gouging saga

The hearing came to the judgement that he did it on purpose. Why are you being so weird about that?

16 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
Glasgow vs Sale | Sale vs Glasgow | Investec Champions Cup Live

Nil - Nil after 80 mins!?

1 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 2 hours ago
Six Nations statement: Tom Curry 'Tunnelgate' incident

It's likely that Horst Wessels ban knocked a good 3 months off Eben’s.

Taking one for the team. Or taking both. Or not taking any, without the video evidence.



...

24 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 2 hours ago
Ulster score 61 in European Challenge Cup romp over Racing 92

As impressive as it was surprising. They moved through the gears nicely.

Agree fully on Wilson. Really stood out.



...

2 Go to comments
N
Ninjin 2 hours ago
Alex Mann won't face citing for part in Wales-South Africa incident

I so enjoy your juvenile musings🙄 By the bye a bye by me really slipped by you without effort of any comprehention. Stay bi ok.

63 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
Andy Onyeama-Christie on brink of Saracens exit as new club emerge

🤣🤣🤣

8 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
My honest prediction for the Investec Champions Cup – Andy Goode

In fairness HH, you can’t blame them.

You basically play in 25-32C in SA and then 3-4C in the European matches and both sets of players suddenly have colds and pick up injuries, which is impossible to manage when they have a week to week games.



...

11 Go to comments
T
Tom 3 hours ago
Andy Onyeama-Christie on brink of Saracens exit as new club emerge

Don't try to reason with me when I'm being unreasonable!

8 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
My honest prediction for the Investec Champions Cup – Andy Goode

He’s not the best G - just says anything punchy to get a reaction. It’s click-bait of the highest form with him.

11 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
My honest prediction for the Investec Champions Cup – Andy Goode

Basically tells you they are not prioritising this tournament whatsoever and if so, why bother entering?

11 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
My honest prediction for the Investec Champions Cup – Andy Goode

The Investec is broken and whilst the SA sides have worked out how to manage the mini-tours during the URC season, the reality of playing in 30C one week and 0C the next, makes it very difficult to manage during the winter period in Europe and why we haven’t seen a strong representation from them in this tournament.

French Top 14 has more money and deeper squads, which is a big factor behind their success, as it was for English teams pre-Covid when they were in the same position (and were annual winners).



...

11 Go to comments
P
PMcD 3 hours ago
Andy Onyeama-Christie on brink of Saracens exit as new club emerge

It’s pretty tough when you look at the numbers Tom - the marquee players wages are increasing (outside of the cap), the next 5 best players in the squads are being picked off by the Top 14 (with much higher offers), the academy players naturally increase and you see significant increases once a player hits 50 PREM caps, so the players from say 10th spot to 30th are all being squeezed in the squad and many of the older players are being forced to take reductions to keep that last final contract.

If you look at the maths of the salary cap, it basically says you need to turn your squad of 38-42 players over every 5-6 years and balance the demographics (as age & ability generally drives the increases).



...

8 Go to comments
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