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Stormers v Bulls: When Bok Futures and Proven Steel Collide

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By Adnaan Mohamed

There are derbies, and then there are rugby events that feel bigger than the competition table. The Stormers versus Bulls north–south clash at a sold-out DHL Stadium on Saturday belongs firmly in the latter category. It’s a fixture where reputations are tested as brutally as defensive lines.

The first URC blockbuster of 2026 arrives wrapped in symbolism. Damian Willemse will make his 100th start for the Stormers. Ruan Nortje returns to captain the Bulls. And at flyhalf, the generational baton hangs tantalisingly between two Springboks: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handré Pollard.

One represents the present tense of South African rugby’s future: instinctive, elastic, daring. The other is its hardened past and still-relevant present: precise, economical, forged in World Cup fire. Saturday is less about rivalry than rugby arithmetic: what happens when flair meets control under maximum pressure?

Stormers: Tempo, Power and Cape Town Edge

The Stormers receive a significant boost with the return of Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu, restoring balance to a side that thrives on momentum. Willemse’s presence in midfield alongside Wandisile Simelane gives the hosts ballast and punch, while Cobus Reinach and Feinberg-Mngomezulu form a halfback pairing designed to accelerate the game.

Director of Rugby John Dobson framed the occasion without hyperbole:

“This is one of the biggest club rugby matches in the world and will be played in front of a sold-out DHL Stadium. It should be an incredible experience for everyone there.

We know that we will need to be at our absolute best throughout the game to come away with the result.”

Out wide, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Leolin Zas provide finishing pace, with Warrick Gelant lurking at the back like a counter-attacking wildcard. Up front, captain Salmaan Moerat marshals a pack that blends aggression with continuity, supported by Evan Roos and Ben-Jason Dixon in the loose — players built for derby combat.

Bulls: Structure, Steel and World Cup Calm

The Bulls arrive in Cape Town with a side subtly reshaped for control rather than chaos. Ruan Nortje’s return to the starting XV restores authority to the pack, while Marco van Staden adds breakdown venom. The front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw remains intact, signalling a clear intent to contest the set-piece battle.

Behind them sits a familiar Bulls spine: Pollard at 10, Willie le Roux at 15, David Kriel in midfield — experience stacked upon experience. Canan Moodie’s move to centre injects line-breaking speed, while Paul de Wet starts at scrumhalf against his former side.

Head coach Johan Ackermann underlined the method behind the selection:

“We’ve assessed the Sharks game and made adjustments where needed. Ruan’s leadership is vital, and bringing in players like Canan Moodie and Marco van Staden gives us the right balance for this contest. It’s about alignment and intensity as we start the year.”

The Key Battlegrounds

The obvious headline is flyhalf, but the game may hinge elsewhere. The midfield collisions between Willemse and Moodie will dictate gain-line success. The breakdown duel with Roos and Dixon versus Van Staden and Louw, could determine territory. And off the bench, both sides possess finishers capable of swinging momentum late.

This is not a derby built on nostalgia. It is one shaped by present ambition and future consequence. The Stormers want tempo and emotion. The Bulls want structure and silence.

Cape Town will decide which philosophy holds firm when the noise peaks.

Team Sheets

DHL Stormers:
15 Warrick Gelant; 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Ruan Ackermann; 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c); 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Sazi Sandi, Adré Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee.

Vodacom Bulls:
15 Willie le Roux; 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khuta Mchunu, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Devon Williams.

Match Information

Date: Saturday, January 3
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 18:00 (16:00 GMT)
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SA)

Springboks Brace for Heavyweight 2026 Rugby Season

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Adnaan Mohamed

The Springboks’ 2026 Test calendar reads like a greatest-hits album pressed into green and gold vinyl. Ten fixtures. Eight heavyweight opponents. Iconic stadiums. Familiar foes. Old grudges. New chapters.

From the winter chill of Ellis Park in July to facing the All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Four-Test Series, followed by the furnace of a late-season Nations Championship finale, South Africa’s world champions are primed for a campaign that promises collision, combustion and classic rugby theatre.

The season kicks off with a trio of home Tests against northern hemisphere visitors, as England, Scotland and Wales tour South Africa in July. England arrive at Ellis Park on 4 July still licking their wounds from a 29–20 defeat in 2024, while Scotland head to Loftus Versfeld a week later hoping to improve on a 32–15 loss. Wales complete the mid-year run at Kings Park on 18 July, returning to the scene of a humbling 73–0 defeat in 2025, a reminder of just how ruthless the Springbok machine can be when fully oiled.

August and September then ignite Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series as the All Blacks cross swords with the Boks in a four-Test epic that will stretch both squads to breaking point. Ellis Park (22 August), Cape Town Stadium (29 August) and FNB Stadium (5 September) host the opening three clashes, with a fourth Test scheduled for 12 September at a venue still to be confirmed. The last time the sides met in 2024, South Africa delivered a commanding 43–10 statement, but history teaches that past results mean little when black meets green.

The season’s final act unfolds on the road in November, with the Springboks entering the Nations Championship cauldron against Italy (6–8 November), France (13–15 November) and Ireland (21 November), all at venues yet to be confirmed. Italy will seek to overturn a 32–14 defeat from 2025, while France and Ireland, beaten 32–17 and 24–13 respectively, loom as familiar obstacles on the high-pressure European stage.

From altitude to ocean, from ferocious rivals to wounded challengers, the 2026 Springbok campaign is built like a forward pack: heavy, balanced and relentless. Every Test is a tackle waiting to happen. Every whistle, a fresh battle cry.

Springboks 2026 Fixtures

July – Home Tests (Nations Championship)

  • 4 July: vs England – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
  • 11 July: vs Scotland – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
  • 18 July: vs Wales – Kings Park, Durban

August–September – All Blacks Series

  • 22 August: vs New Zealand – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
  • 29 August: vs New Zealand – Cape Town Stadium
  • 5 September: vs New Zealand – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
  • 12 September: vs New Zealand – Venue TBC

November – Nations Championship (Away)

  • 6–8 November: vs Italy – Venue TBC
  • 13–15 November: vs France – Venue TBC
  • 21 November: vs Ireland – Venue TBC

SA Sport 2025: A Year-in-Review

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By Adnaan Mohamed

In South Africa, sport has always been more than results. It is identity, catharsis and connection. In 2025, that truth surged again, from the collective power of the Springboks to the solitary courage of ultra-marathoners chasing dawn. This special edition captures a year when excellence became habit and belief became currency.

RUGBY: THE SPRINGBOKS – A STANDARD THE WORLD STILL CHASES

If global rugby were measured in tectonic plates, the Springboks spent 2025 shifting them.

South Africa’s national side operated with the assurance of champions who know their system is both unforgiving and evolving. They defended trophies, dominated tours and suffocated opponents with a brand of rugby that blended brute force with surgical intelligence.

The crowning individual honour came when Malcolm Marx was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year. It was well deserved recognition for a player who plays the game like a controlled demolition. Around him, the emergence of creative talents such as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ensured the Bok blueprint remained future-proof.

“The Springboks didn’t just win in 2025, they imposed a rhythm the rest of the world struggled to breathe in.”

CRICKET: PROTEAS REWRITE THEIR HISTORY

At Lord’s, cricket’s most sacred address, South Africa finally confronted its past and walked beyond it.

The Proteas’ World Test Championship triumph was more than silverware. It was a release. Decades of near-misses dissolved as a team led by coach Shukri Conrad and led by Temba Bavuma played with clarity, courage and conviction.

Where previous Proteas sides carried scars, this one carried belief. The victory announced South Africa’s return to cricket’s highest table, not as guests, but as equals.

Proteas Women mirrored that excellence, reaching global finals and reinforcing the depth and durability of South African cricket across genders.

ATHLETICS: SPEED, SCIENCE AND STAYING POWER
Akani Simbine : The Constant

In an era of fleeting sprint dominance, Akani Simbine remained the constant, anchoring relay success and delivering world-class performances with metronomic consistency. His longevity at elite speed became its own form of greatness.

ROAD RUNNING: A YEAR THE CLOCK COULDN’T CONTAIN

South Africa’s roads became theatres of defiance in 2025, places where age, expectation and perceived limits were dismantled.

Elroy Gelant : The Marathon Reset

At 38, Elroy Gelant shattered Gert Thys 26-year-old South African marathon record, slicing through time with the precision of a veteran who understood patience as power. His run didn’t just reset a record, it reset belief.

Glenrose Xaba : Queen of the Circuit

Glenrose Xaba ruled the SPAR Grand Prix like royalty, sweeping the series with relentless cadence and tactical control. Her dominance elevated women’s road running into mainstream conversation.

Maxime Chaumeton : Breaking the Mental Barrier

By dipping under 27 minutes for 10km, Maxime Chaumeton didn’t just break a record, he broke a psychological ceiling. The ripple effect will be felt for years.

The Wildschutt Brothers : From Ceres to the World

Adriaan and Nadeel Wildschutt continued to anchor South Africa’s distance legacy. Their performances reinforced a simple truth: endurance excellence is forged through environment, discipline and humility.

ULTRA-DISTANCE RUNNING: WHERE LEGENDS WALK TOWARDS PAIN
Gerda Steyn – The Golden Girl of Endless Roads

In the brutal, beautiful realm of ultra-marathons, Gerda Steyn remained peerless. Victories at both the Totalsports Two Oceans 56km and the Comrades Marathon confirmed her status as South Africa’s undisputed queen of endurance.

Steyn doesn’t race opponents, she negotiates with terrain, climbs mountains with calm authority and descends with fearless precision.

Tete Dijana : Defender of the Down Run

The Comrades Marathon came alive as Tete Dijana successfully defended his Down Run title. His aggressive, fearless approach reminded everyone that Comrades champions are not merely runners, they are architects of suffering and triumph.
“In 2025, South Africa didn’t just win Comrades, it owned the road.”

FOOTBALL: FOUNDATIONS OVER FIREWORKS

For Bafana Bafana, 2025 was about structure and progression rather than spectacle. Key wins, disciplined performances and youth-level success hinted at a system slowly learning consistency, laying bricks rather than chasing shortcuts.

BEYOND THE BIG CODES: DEPTH ACROSS THE BOARD

From hockey triumphs to netball growth, swimming, rowing and youth multisport success, Team South Africa’s broader sporting ecosystem thrived. Medal tables and qualification campaigns confirmed a vital truth: the base of South African sport is wider than ever.

THE BIG PICTURE: WHAT 2025 REALLY MEANT

What unified South Africa’s sporting year was not just success, but sustainability.

  • Rugby showed depth and evolution
  • Cricket conquered its mental frontier
  • Athletics blended speed with staying power
  • Road and ultra-running delivered global relevance
FINAL WHISTLE

If sport is a language, then South Africa spoke it fluently in 2025, sometimes loudly, sometimes quietly, but always with intent. From scrums that bent spines to runners who bent time, this was a year where the nation didn’t wait for greatness. It ran towards it and crossed the line together.

Bok coaching talk adds spice to Stormers-Bulls North-South URC derby

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Adnaan Mohamed

The Stormers–Bulls rivalry rarely needs a spark, but this week a murmur from the Springbok camp has crackled through the build-up, adding intrigue to Saturday’s Vodacom URC north-south derby at Cape Town Stadium.

Stormers defence coach Norman Laker admitted the Cape side was surprised by SA Rugby’s decision to allow members of the Springbok coaching and performance group (Felix Jones, Jerry Flannery, Duane Vermeulen and Andy Edwards) to assist the Bulls on a short-term basis.

For Laker, the timing felt as unusual as a line-out call changed mid-throw.

“It was quite interesting for me to see that, in such a big week, they’re bringing the Springbok coaches in to help the Bulls,” Laker said.

“Normally, the national coaches don’t really help teams when there are derbies involved. That’s always been the case.”

He stressed there was no accusation of foul play, only a break from tradition.

“In the past, guys like Felix Jones and Daan Human have assisted franchises when we were playing overseas opposition. Felix has helped us before, Daan has come in to help with scrummaging – but never ahead of a local derby,” he explained.

Pressed on whether the Bulls might gain an unfair edge, Laker kept his feet behind the advantage line.

“I can’t say if it’s a fair or unfair advantage. I just find it interesting. That’s all I can really say.”

Despite the chatter, Laker insisted the Stormers remain focused on their own execution rather than who is holding the clipboard across the halfway line.

“It doesn’t matter who coaches the team this week. A north-south derby is a game where players don’t need motivation. They’ll come out guns blazing, backs against the wall, wanting to win.”

Veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, set for his first Stormers-Bulls derby after eight seasons in England and France, echoed the sentiment of controlled aggression.

“You hear from the boys how big this fixture is,” Reinach said. “It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be intense, and it’s about who fronts up on the day.”

Ackermann: ‘Perspective, not playbooks’

On the Highveld, Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann moved to clear the air, rejecting suggestions that Springbok assistant coaches were actively embedded with his squad during derby week.

“I never asked for that, and Rassie also said it wouldn’t be ideal,” Ackermann explained. “The thought that they would be in camp this week is ridiculous, and I challenge any press photographer to get a picture of a Bok coach at Loftus this week – it was never our intention.”

Ackermann said speculation had gained momentum without the full picture.

“The story was spread without the facts, and nobody bothered to speak to me. The truth is simple: I assessed everything and wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look at our defensive structures and bounce ideas off.”

He clarified that his request was about alignment rather than assistance in match planning.

“I said, you’ve always made your team of coaches available, and I’d love it if someone like [coach] Jerry Flanerry could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas. I don’t expect the Bok coaches to put a plan together on how to win – that is my job as head coach. I have my own system; it was never my idea to secure plans.”

Any collaboration, Ackermann added, would be rotational and realistic.

“You can’t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I’d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.”

He drew a clear boundary between advice and authorship.

“I would never ask Rassie for game plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching.”

As the derby approaches, the debate has already kicked and chased. Soon, though, the noise will fade, and only the collisions will speak. This is proof once again that no amount of expertise off the field can replace muscle, mindset and moments when north meets south.

Rassie Erasmus thanks Bok faithful with Christmas Walk

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By Adnaan Mohamed

If Christmas had a team talk, Rassie Erasmus delivered it in takkies, not a tracksuit. And instead of white lines and whistles, he used a seaside promenade and the gentle rhythm of footsteps.

On Christmas morning, the Springboks head coach once again became Cape Town’s most followed pedestrian, drawing hundreds of supporters to the Blouberg coastline after issuing an open invitation on social media.

“This is to thank you for your passionate support and the way you carry us,” Erasmus wrote. “Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie” (They don’t know what we know).”

At precisely 06:00, because even festive strolling runs on Bok-standard time, the six-kilometre walk rolled out from outside Doodles Beachfront Restaurant.

The route was simple, symmetrical and suspiciously well conditioned: three kilometres out, three kilometres back, with Table View as the turning point and Christmas breakfast waiting at full-time.

The tradition, now in its second year, began the way most good ideas do: accidentally.

“Merry Christmas to you guys as well. We just started last year, I think it was the night before Christmas and a few friends said let’s go for a walk, and a few guys in the neighborhood (joined us),” said Erasmus.

“We sent messages on What’s App and told people whose maybe lonely or family that wants to join and this year, I think it doubled (in size) or something like that.”

There were no bibs, no briefings and mercifully no shuttle runs.

“So, no rules we just get together, walk three kilometres out, three kilometres back, sign a few things, give a photo or so and everybody goes and do their thing,” said Erasmus, effectively unveiling the most relaxed Springbok camp session ever staged.

Beneath the humour and flip-flops sat a serious point. This was Erasmus’ way of tipping his cap to the supporters who fill stadiums, timelines and living rooms.

“It means everything. If they weren’t there, we would be playing in front of nobody and for nobody,” he said.

“I live here in Blouberg and I know most of the people here. I know a lot (of them) are not from Blouberg, who drove here.

“But it’s just a small little thank you to them and (a chance) to mingle with them on the ground. We sometimes don’t get a chance to do that so it’s wonderful.”

While the Springboks continue to march relentlessly at the top of World Rugby, their head coach chose, just for one morning, to slow the tempo. No trophies, no tactics.

He just a shared walk, a few selfies and the quiet reminder that even world champions occasionally win simply by putting one foot in front of the other.

Betway SA20 Fireworks at Newlands as Super Giants outmuscle Rickelton’s masterclass

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Adnaan Mohamed

Newlands crackled like a dry pitch under a blazing sun as Betway SA20 Season 4 burst into life with a run-fuelled spectacle that had the crowd riding every delivery.

On a night when bowlers were reduced to survival mode and boundaries flowed like a broken sight screen, Durban Super Giants emerged with a statement 15-run victory over MI Cape Town.

Eathan Bosch of Durban Super Giants and David Wiese of Durban Super Giants are congratulated for getting the wicket of Rassie Van Der Dussen of MI Cape Town during match 1 of the Betway SA20 season 4 between MI Cape Town (MICT) and The Durban Super Giants (DSG) held at the Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town 2025 Photo by Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for SA20

The opener was a full-blooded slugfest: 449 runs, 25 sixes and 40 fours carved into the Cape Town evening. Yet even amid the chaos, one innings shimmered brighter than most. Ryan Rickelton’s maiden SA20 century was a knock of composure and class, a left-hander painting the Newlands canvas with cuts, drives and pulls in equal measure.

His 113 off 65 balls hauled MI Cape Town within sight of an improbable chase, but it was not enough to drag them over the line.

That was because DSG had already laid down a formidable marker. Their 232/5 was not just match-winning, but record-breaking, surpassing the 204/3 scored by Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the Season 2 final at this ground.

The foundations were poured early by an all-Kiwi opening partnership that batted as if operating on a different tempo. Devon Conway and Kane Williamson dominated the Powerplay, racing to 96 inside 8.3 overs with effortless precision.

The stand ended only after a moment of brilliance: Tristan Luus dismissed Williamson for 40 off 25 balls (7×4), but the real theatre came from MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan, who sprinted back from mid-off and flung himself full length to complete a stunning catch.

Still, the Giants refused to slow. Jos Buttler (20 off 12) and Heinrich Klaasen (22 off 14) ensured the pressure never eased, even after Trent Boult removed Conway for a fluent 64 off 33 balls (7×4, 2×6).

The closing act belonged to Aiden Markram and Evan Jones. Markram tore through the middle overs with a rapid 35 off 17 balls (5×4, 1×6), while Jones delivered the late blows, finishing unbeaten on 33 from just 14 deliveries (4×4, 2×6). By the time the innings ended, DSG had scaled heights that demanded something extraordinary in reply.

MI Cape Town’s chase quickly became the Rickelton show. With Rassie van der Dussen (2) and Reeza Hendricks falling early, the left-hander carried the innings with calm authority, once again underlining his affinity with Newlands.

The tempo spiked when debutant Jason Smith arrived. His blistering 41 off 14 balls (4×4, 3×6) swung momentum sharply, momentarily tilting belief towards the home side and igniting the stands.

But DSG kept finding cracks. Smith fell, followed by Nicholas Pooran (15) and Dwaine Pretorius (5), as wickets in the death overs tightened the screws.

Rickelton was granted a reprieve on 85 when Kwena Maphaka overstepped, recalling him after a catch in the deep. The lifeline allowed him to surge to his second career T20 hundred, but the finish remained steep.

With 22 needed from the final over, Eathan Bosch held his nerve like a seasoned closer. His figures of 4/46 told the story of controlled aggression as he removed Rickelton and slammed the door on MI Cape Town’s brave pursuit.

Season 4 has barely begun, yet Newlands has already delivered a reminder: in the SA20, hesitation is punished, courage is rewarded, and entertainment is guaranteed.

MI Cape Town Ready to Defend Newlands Betway SA20 Fortress

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By Adnaan Mohamed

MI Cape Town will begin their Betway SA20 Season 4 campaign on familiar ground, returning to a Newlands venue that proved impenetrable during last season’s title run.

The defending champions were unbeaten in five home matches in Season 3, turning the historic stadium into a fortress on their march to the trophy.

Champions open SA20 Season 4 against star-studded Super Giants

Led by captain Rashid Khan, MI Cape Town boast a squad brimming with firepower. Proteas stars Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch are joined by international standouts Rashid Khan, Trent Boult and explosive new recruit Nicholas Pooran.

Rashid believes the pressure has eased following last season’s breakthrough title after two difficult campaigns.

“There was more pressure last year than this year, you know we came at the bottom twice in a row and to come up from that and win the trophy was a big thing for us as a team,” Rashid Khan said.

“I think what we did right was we played collectively as a team and we took the responsibility at certain points of the game.

“Every player is well experienced, and they will adjust themselves with the condition and the position of the team quite quickly.

“Everyone is so professional, they have played so much cricket around the world, and I think it won’t be that difficult for them to acclimatise.”

Pooran set to add power and energy

All eyes will be on Nicholas Pooran, with Rashid backing the West Indian to make an immediate impact in his new colours.

“He (Pooran) is going to bring lots of energy to the game,” Rashid said. “We know how dangerous and how good a cricketer he is.

“He is a kind of like a person who comes in smashing lots of sixes you will see. He’s a guy full of energy and entertainment and I am sure he is going to love his time here.”

Super Giants arrive with pedigree and punch

Durban’s Super Giants arrive with a revamped squad and a new leader in Aiden Markram, a two-time SA20 winner with Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Markram brings a proven winning mentality to a side packed with international quality.

Durban Super Giants captain Aiden Markram during the Betway SA20 Captain’s day prior to the start of season 4. Held at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa on the 23rd December 2025 Photo by Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for SA20

England’s former T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler headlines a powerful batting unit that also includes New Zealand great Kane Williamson and Proteas star Heinrich Klaasen.

While West Indian all-rounder Sunil Narine is not yet available, the Super Giants have strengthened their spin resources with Proteas Test hero Simon Harmer, joining Afghanistan mystery spinner Noor Ahmad.

Markram believes the group has the right balance as they begin a new chapter.

“There is a really nice balance in the set-up and we have a nice group of guys. We have some really good all-rounders, mixed with 2-3 world class players with the likes of Buttler, Klaasen and co,” Markram said.

“I think a lot of it comes down to finding our strength as a team and our identity and what gives us the best chance to play good cricket and win games of cricket, so it’s obviously a new and exciting challenge for us in a competition with a lot of new faces.”

Sold-out Newlands set for festive opener

Cricket fever has gripped the Mother City, with the opening match completely sold out. Fans will be treated to a festival atmosphere, headlined by a live performance from award-winning DJ and GQ Man of the Year Shimza before the first ball.

With entertainment on and off the field and two star-studded teams ready to set the tone for the season, Newlands is primed for a blockbuster start to Betway SA20 Season 4.

Betway SA20 Season 4: A Summer of Sixes, Stars and Succession

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By Adnaan Mohamed

South Africa’s summer blockbuster is ready for its opening scene. Betway SA20 Season 4 strides to the crease on Boxing Day at Newlands, where cricket royalty and fearless young guns will collide in a festive showdown packed with promise.

The countdown gathered pace in Cape Town as League Commissioner Graeme Smith addressed the media alongside a who’s who of SA20 captains: Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs. The message was clear: the league is no longer finding its feet, it’s sprinting between the wickets.

“I’m very excited. I think from our perspective, it has been three great seasons building up to where we are now,” Smith said.

“We are really looking forward to a great summer of cricket. The players on my left and right, having spoken to them this morning, are also really looking forward to performing well over the next coming weeks.”

Smith believes SA20 has become fertile ground for South Africa’s next wave of talent.

“We’re starting to see an influx of talent performing well. It’s an incredible opportunity for those youngsters to be exposed to the quality of the game, to learn and to use the League as a platform for them.

“It’s not just the 15 players that play for South Africa in the year, but another 60-odd players that have developed.”

A new chapter begins for Aiden Markram, who swaps Sunrisers Eastern Cape success for fresh challenges at Durban’s Super Giants.

“It’s exciting being with the new team,” Markram said. “The competition is such a great time of year in South Africa. I’ve said it now quite a few times, but guys really enjoy it. The fans love it.”

No player embodies SA20’s growth more than Tristan Stubbs. Once a Rising Star, the Gqeberha local now captains Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

“I’m really excited and just keen to get going. We sort of followed a similar blueprint to the first year. A lot of the team is based around local boys who know PE, live in and around PE. Just being a PE boy brings that culture and that extra fight to play for the team in front of a home crowd,” Stubbs said.

At Joburg Super Kings, Faf du Plessis is embracing a youthful revolution.

“I feel there was a shift in his (Fleming) style when it comes to looking at younger players and backing younger players,” Du Plessis said.

“This year especially we have a very young squad… That’s the nature of the beast of SA20.”

David Miller expects raw hunger to be the difference-maker.

“There’s going to be a lot of energy, enthusiasm from the youngsters… This is the month to enjoy the season and have a lot of fun and play extremely competitive cricket at the same time.”

New leadership also arrives in Centurion, where Keshav Maharaj eyes Highveld challenges.

“Every novel opens with a new chapter, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Maharaj said.

Defending champions MI Cape Town, meanwhile, lean on chemistry as Kagiso Rabada sharpens the attack.

“Familiarity is a key thing. You need to bond with your teammates,” Rabada said.

With opening-night tickets already sold out, SA20 Season 4 is shaping up as a summer where every ball matters, and the future of South African cricket swings freely.

Dylan Maart’s Stormers surge has Springbok written all over it

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Adnaan Mohamed

Dylan Maart’s rugby journey is unfolding like a perfectly weighted grubber, unexpected, precise and suddenly impossible to ignore.

On loan from Currie Cup champions Griquas, Maart is now streaking down the touchline for the Stormers. The Wellington-born speedster is finishing tries under the bright lights of the Investec Champions Cup, leaving defenders clutching at air and selectors sitting up straighter.

Maart wasted no time announcing himself in blue and white. A debut try against Munster in Limerick was followed by a brace against La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup, both five-pointers delivered on a silver platter by Springbok fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

“Look, to get a try in the first place for the Stormers is always special,” Maart said.

“Two or three, I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

“If you have someone like Sacha, who has all the talent in the world, on your inside and who can find every space, you just have to be in the right place.

“So, yes, it was exciting to get those two tries and to have a say in the team’s victory at the end of the day.”

Those early scores have propelled Maart from squad player to headline act, and now the Wellington-born speedster is preparing for another milestone: his first run-out at DHL Stadium.

“Making my debut, playing overseas for the first time and obviously the results have been going our way,” he said ahead of the Lions derby.

“I’m very excited to play my first game at the DHL Stadium in front of the home crowd … exciting times.”

The rise has been as steep as a midfield chip-and-chase.

“If I think of where I was a year ago to where I am now, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to play here at the Stormers, so I’m very grateful and very excited.”

While Maart is carving his own attacking lines, his compass points firmly towards an old friend and local hero, Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, who also cracked international rugby later than most.

“I actually didn’t play rugby until after high school, but I watched a lot of rugby,” Maart revealed.

“There’s a lot of guys that I can mention. But for me, growing up, it was Bryan Habana.

“Cheslin [Kolbe] now, as well as one of my friends, Kurt-Lee Arendse. He lives in Paarl, I’m from Wellington so he’s a guy I look up to and can always ask if I need some advice.

“He’s also a role model for me. And very inspiring also. To see that he can also make it. So, that’s something for me to look forward to.”

At 29, when many players are settled into predictable careers, Maart rolled the dice. He left his job as a warehouse worker at a bottling plant and bet everything on rugby. The risk was rooted in hardship.

“I played rugby in primary school, but nothing in high school, for various reasons.

“Things weren’t good at home. There were many nights when there was no food and we went to sleep hungry.”

At 13, he worked as a taxi guard, opening doors, collecting fares and carrying bags, just to put food on the table and secure a ride to school in Paarl. Rugby, though distant, never left his heart.

When opportunity finally knocked, Maart smashed the door down. He rose with Boland Cavaliers, became a pillar of a Griquas side that ended a 55-year Currie Cup drought, and is now lighting up the URC and Champions Cup in Stormers colours.

The Stormers’ season mirrors Maart’s surge. They are unbeaten in the Investec Champions Cup, eight wins from eight in all competitions, and positioned to host a last-16 European play-off.

Saturday’s URC clash against the Lions at DHL Stadium, only their third home game of the campaign, offers Maart another stage to sprint his late-blooming dream closer to green and gold.

Like Arendse before him, Maart is proof that in rugby, timing matters less than belief, and that some wings only truly catch the wind when the stakes are highest.

Keri Miller dives back into Midmar with family, fitness and heart in tow

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, News, SwimmingLeave a Comment on Keri Miller dives back into Midmar with family, fitness and heart in tow
By Adnaan Mohamed

Like a confident swimmer slipping into familiar waters, popular KwaZulu-Natal radio personality Keri Miller is set to make another splash at the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile, taking place from 5–8 February.

The co-founder of digital radio station PlayZN has confirmed she will line up in the family race on Saturday, combining strokes with sentiment as she swims her third Midmar Mile, while also serving as an ambassador for Mr Price Sport, one of the event’s key sponsors.

Miller won’t be navigating the Midmar waters solo. Instead, she’ll be buoyed by a strong family current, swimming alongside her sister, brother-in-law, niece and two nephews.

“As a family, last year was our first time swimming Midmar together and we absolutely loved it,” she said.

Her Midmar journey began almost by accident in 2024, sparked by an interview with race director Wayne Riddin and the lure of one of South Africa’s most iconic sporting keepsakes.

“It’s a really great towel,” she joked.

By 2025, the hook was firmly set.

“For the 2025 race, my sister had already entered her whole family and I thought, if [my niece] Charli-Rose can swim it at six, then nothing is stopping me. It felt like one of the best family days we could ever have together. Such a cool memory to make.”

Miller says the aQuellé Midmar Mile fits seamlessly with her philosophy of active, connected living.

“Considering I have a radio station called PlayZN, I’m a huge supporter of anything that gets us outside, off our phones and into our bodies. For anyone who’s had the privilege of learning to swim, this is one of the most satisfying things you can do. And everyone loves a medal. It’s such a celebration of how beautiful Midmar is.”

Her role as a Mr Price Sport ambassador adds another deeply personal layer to the experience.

“It’s a beautiful reminder that I’m in a strong, healthy body and that at 43 I can move happily and pain-free. Being able to represent a local brand in a local race feels special. I’m grateful and I hope to see more women my age shifting how they think about and treat their beautiful bodies.”

Preparation-wise, Miller is keeping her training balanced, mixing calm control with respect for Midmar’s unpredictable conditions.

“I’ll do some training with Nix O’Driscoll, who is a wonderful coach and will give me all the pointers, and then keep some sea swimming going because we know Midmar is not flat!”

Yet, for all the fitness and finish times, it’s the family moments that remain her emotional anchor.

“Spending time with Matt, Brad and Charli. Those three are everything to me… I just want to be present, cross that finish line together and get our family photo at the end. I get teary even thinking about it. I’m obsessed with those little humans.”

Reflecting on why the event continues to draw thousands into the water each year, Miller believes the magic lies in its accessibility.

“The sense of accomplishment at the end is huge and it’s so doable. You don’t have to be elite to compete. It’s the perfect race.”

Entries for the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile are now open, with early-bird entries closing on 21 December. More information is available at www.midmarmile.com