Handre Pollard and Franco Mostert buzzed the scoreboard as SA’s foreign legion impressed from Europe to Japan.
English Premiership:
Handre Pollard and Hanro Liebenberg starred for the Leicester Tigers in a 42-20 win against the Newcastle Falcons. Liebenberg crossed the whitewash in the first quarter, while Pollard added eight points from the tee. Former SA U20 lock Sebastian de Chaves and prop Luan de Bruin started for the Falcons.
Ruan Ackermann ran out at No 8 for Gloucester in their 41-26 win against the Northampton Saints at the Kingsholm Stadium.
Six South Africans faced off in the Sale Sharks’ 30-26 victory against the Exeter Chiefs. Jean-Luc du Preez started alongside brothers Dan and Rob, while Ernst van Rhyn featured at lock. Kwenzo Blose and Jacques Vermeulen packed down for Exeter.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg dotted down for the Bristol Bears in a convincing 52-26 win against Harlequins. Former Sharks prop Jordan Els started on the bench for Quins.
Ivan van Zyl started at scrumhalf in Saracens’ 36-26 win against Johann van Graan’s Bath. Louis Schreuder started at halfback for Bath and was replaced by Neil le Roux in the fourth quarter.
Top 14:
Jeremy Ward and JJ van der Mescht featured for Stade Francais in the 55-20 defeat to Clermont at the Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Une master class 👨🏫
Quand il est joué par Jauneau le rugby parait forcément bien moins compliqué 😅
Le demi de mêlée de l’@ASMOfficiel trouve la solution pour offrir un essai à Fouyssac 👐#TOP14 pic.twitter.com/RmJVNOUwLG— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) May 31, 2025
Former Stormers speedster Dillyn Leyds scored off the bench for La Rochelle in the 38-15 win against Perpignan. Jaques van Tonder and James Hall ran out for Perpignan.
Japan League One:
Former Bulls forward Willie Potgieter came off the bench for Kobe Steel, scoring a vital try in a 22-17 win against the Wild Knights in the 3rd place playoffs. Bok duo Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager started for the Knights.
Six South Africans ran out for the Kubota Spears in the 18-13 defeat to Brave Lupus in the Japan League One final. Springbok hooker Malcom Marx packed down alongside Ruan Botha, David Bullbring, Tyler Paul and Merwe Olivier, while former Stormers centre Rikus Pretorius started in midfield.
Former Lions lock Lourens Erasmus started for the Urayasu D-Rocks in a 27-21 win against Toyota Industries. James Mollentze ran out for Toyota Industries at inside centre.
Bok lock Franco Mostert crossed the whitewash in Honda Heat’s 29-19 win against the Kintetsu Liners. Dawid Kellerman started in midfield, while Jan-Hendrik Swanepoel provided support from the bench.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
