Australia prop James Slipper and winger Dylan Pietsch have been ruled out of the second Rugby Championship test against South Africa in a double blow to the Wallabies' hopes.

The annual Rugby Championship, featuring World Cup title-holders South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, kicks off on Saturday amid uncertainty over its future.

The hardiness of green shoots cultivated by the Wallabies in their test series against the British and Irish Lions will be tested by the storm they're likely to face against the World Cup champion Springboks in the first round of The Rugby Championship.

Edinburgh Rugby prop Boan Venter won his second cap for South Africa, coming on as a 59th-minute replacement for Ox Nche, but he and his teammate were unable to fend off their visitors.

The southern hemisphere competition reaches the end of an era with change on the way – but there is optimism for a strong campaign for each competing nation

Four leading South Africa internationals have signed up to play in the new R360 league after an explosion of interest from players following the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.

Mapimpi struck twice in the first half as South Africa, fresh from adding this year's Rugby Championship title to their back-to-back World Cup triumphs, led 19-9 at the break.

South Africa's lock Eben Etzebeth attends a press conference on September 29, 2015. The alternative equity deal has faced considerable criticism for being financially complex, lacking secure ...

Boland Rugby Union expressed their heartbreak over the death of the 44-year-old, and out of respect, the first team match between the two clubs was cancelled immediately upon the news of the ...

The Wallabies recovered from 22-0 down to prevail 38-22 and record their first triumph over the Springboks at Ellis Park since 1963. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.