Minor tweaks to Bok Women squad for Spain Test

Babalwa Latsha is back as captain and tighthead prop for the Springbok Women’s Test against Spain in Seville on Sunday, while Xoliswa Khuzwayo and Patience Mokone have also been included in the starting team for the final match of the team’s 2026 WXV Global Series tour to Europe.

Springbok Women co-coaches Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September opted for continuity from last weekend’s team, but they also tweaked the bench from the side that beat Italy in front of their home fans for the first time. esporist.org

Latsha swops places with Nombuyekezo Mdliki, who will play off the bench, while Lindelwa Gwala and Danelle Lochner boost the bomb squad after missing out against Italy.

Gwala takes over the finishing role from Micke Gunter at hooker, while Lochner takes over from Nomsa Mokwai, who was one of the replacements against Wales and Italy. Yonela Ngxingolo, who started against Italy, will earn her 49th Test cap off the bench, with Sanelisiwe Charlie not involved this weekend.

Mary Zulu, who joined the squad on Monday to replace the injured Libbie Janse van Rensburg, will cover flyhalf and fullback on the bench.

“With this being the final leg of our tour, it was another opportunity for us to freshen up out match day squad before we head into the last two matches against Ireland in Cape Town,” said Johannes-Haupt.

“We were lucky to have played several matches this season already and that helped us to build depth. For this match, we wanted to give some players the chance to get a run and show us what they can do.

“Take for example the changes in the front row. Xoliswa comes in for Charlie, which shows the strength in the front row as we know each of those players gives us something different. For this match against Spain, we changed the dynamics slightly on how we want to play.”

Johannes-Haupt said the change on the wing was to give Mokone another run: “Both Patience and Maria excelled for our sevens team, they have a lot of speed, a good work rate and know exactly where they are on the field. So, for this week, Patience is getting a run, but how we want to play will not be different, as they are like for like.

“We are also happy to have Mary back; she did well for the ‘A’-side that played in Brazil recently and had no problems slotting into this team again. It shows the value of our academy set-up also, as she comes to us with good confidence of having played at a high level recently.”

Johannes-Haupth also feels that the victory against Italy will add a spring to their step, while the Spanish will present the Bok Women with a different challenge on Sunday.

“This match-day squad will benefit from the momentum created by the win against Italy,” she said.

“This team will not be much different in how we played against Italy, it is just a matter of those coming off the bench and those starting being tweaked slightly

“We still need to win the battle upfront, and we hope to give the backs the opportunity to play as well. What we have seen from the Spanish team is that they are also improving all the time, with a fast game that often involves their backs.”

The Test against Spain kicks off at 12h00 (SA time) on Sunday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok Women team to face Spain in Seville:
15 Jakkie Cilliers (RC Toulon Provence Méditerranée) – 28 caps, 168 points (11 tries, 46 conversions, 7 penalty goals)
14 Alichia Arries (DHL Western Province) – 11 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
13 Maceala Samboya (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 13 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
12 Shiniqwa Lamprecht (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 4 caps, 0 points
11 Patience Mokone (SA Rugby contracted) – 6 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
10 Byrhandré Dolf (SA Rugby contracted) – 32 caps, 90 points (9 tries, 21 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
9 Unam Tose (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 33 caps, 17 points (3 tries, 1 conversion)
8 Aseza Hele (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 37 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
7 Lerato Makua (SA Rugby contracted) – 21 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
6 Sizophila Solontsi (SA Rugby contracted) – 38 caps, 50 points (10 tries)
5 Catha Jacobs (Golden Lions Women) – 33 caps, 5 points (1 try)
4 Vainah Ubisi (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 29 caps, 45 points (9 tries)
3 Babalwa Latsha (captain; DHL Western Province) – 46 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
2 Anushka Groenewald (DHL Western Province) – 12 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
1 Xoliswa Khuzwayo (Golden Lions Women) – 15 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Replacements:
16 Lindelwa Gwala (Sharks Women) – 42 caps, 90 points (18 tries)
17 Yonela Ngxingolo (Isuzu Bulls Daisies) – 48 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
18 Nombuyekezo Mdliki (Border Ladies) – 18 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
19 Danelle Lochner (Harlequins Women) – 26 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
20 Logan Welman (DHL Western Province) – 8 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
21 Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border Ladies) – 38 caps, 85 points (17 tries)
22 Felicia Jacobs (Sanlam Boland Dames) – 15 caps, 20 points (3 tries)
23 Mary Zulu (Sharks Women) – 18 caps, 45 points (1 try, 20 conversions)

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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The Sharks will be bracing themselves for a mammoth battle against Leinster at Kings Park, knowing full well that the visitors will not be happy with their one-point defeat last week and desperate to work their way up the table after consistently proving themselves as one of the top teams in the competition in the last few seasons.

The Durbanites will also be well aware of the fact that Leinster will offer a completely different challenge to that which they faced against the Ospreys, but they will also enter the game knowing that a victory against the Irish giants will serve as a massive confidence booster before taking on the Stormers in Cape Town next week.

Heading into this clash, the fact that Leinster have won just once in their last nine trips to South Africa, albeit in Durban last season, will also serve as extra motivation for the hosts to remain close to the top of the table, and they will undoubtedly bank on their vocal supporters and the warm and humid conditions to give them an edge.

Importantly, the Sharks have also been boosted by the return of Springboks Andre Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Edwill van der Merwe, Thomas du Toit and Ethan Hooker.

FOLLOW THE SHARKS’ LIVE SCORING IN THE URC

MATCH INFORMATION

Sharks v Leinster
Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 18h30
Referee: Craig Evans
TV: SuperSport

Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Lili Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 23 Ethan Hooker

Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Alan Spicer, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher (captain), 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Diarmuid Mangan, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Hugo McLaughlin.

Manchester City confirmed Friday they had launched an appeal against a damning judgement that found the club guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.

An independent commission delivered its findings earlier this week and City had until Friday to appeal — the Premier League leaders announced shortly before midday (1100 GMT) they had done so.

No sanction has yet been decided upon but City could face substantial points deductions, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The 10-time English champions, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, said in a statement: “The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.

“The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.”

The Premier League issued an update, saying said an “independent appeal board hearing will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted”.

Earlier on Friday, the English Football Association broke its silence on the case, saying that the commission’s decision “has significant implications for the integrity of the game”.

“We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate,” the national governing body said in a statement.

– Sponsorship deals –

The independent commission found City guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules over a period of nearly a decade.

It said deals agreed by City artificially inflated revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018, a period in which they won three Premier League titles and other silverware.

The commission found the club had concealed the true state of its finances, saying City were “significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits”.

It has been widely reported that City will argue that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club’s owners, as part of their appeal.

State-owned bodies are not banned from sponsoring clubs under Premier League rules.

The commission found City had arranged “sham” commercial deals with a number of its sponsors that were part of a “disguised funding scheme”.

It said those companies were only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees, with the remainder funded by club owners Abu Dhabi United Group.

Private investment company ADUG, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, bought City in 2008 and has transformed the club from also-rans into a dominant force.

Sheikh Mansour is also vice-president, deputy prime minister and chairman of the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates.

Downing Street said on Thursday that the super-club was not “above the rules” following criticism of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham over the case.

“As the prime minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules,” a spokesperson said.

Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, told the BBC on Wednesday that he did not want to see the club’s Emirati owners walk away as a result of the case.

England coach Thomas Tuchel, who has City players Marc Guehi and Elliott Anderson in his squad, said the issue was the talk of the camp as his team prepare to face Croatia on Saturday.

“Of course the players talk about it, and City players talk about it, and we talk to them, but only briefly,” he said.

“They’re ready to go for tomorrow, that’s what they show on the pitch and that’s what they show in camp, but of course it’s a big topic.”

There is speculation that City could also be stripped of titles and the club also face a flood of compensation claims from rivals.

UAE airline Etihad Airways, City’s main sponsor, said earlier this week that it was considering legal action against the Premier League.

“Etihad categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements,” an Etihad spokesperson said in a statement.

LOUD and Keyd Stars have pulled out of Counter-Strike 2 as Brazil’s federal government moves against online betting, with the restrictions already reshaping how Brazilian teams fund their operations.

Different routes to the same outcome

Keyd Stars’ CS2 project was backed by betting company EstrelaBet. According to Dust2.us, as reported by Esports News UK, the organisation could no longer justify operating a team after the sanctions took effect.

LOUD’s roster had not been officially announced when the restrictions arrived, and lost the organisation’s backing before playing a match under its banner. The Associated Press reported that the measures were intended to curb gambling addiction and reportedly covered 506 websites.

The disruption reaches beyond the two exits. MIBR, Fluxo W7M and FURIA have removed betting sponsors from some or all team communications, according to Esports Radar as cited by the primary report. Legacy was still displaying Rainbet, while Imperial continued to carry Gamdom.

• Keyd Stars and LOUD have left CS2.
• MIBR, Fluxo W7M and FURIA have adjusted sponsor messaging.
• Legacy and Imperial were still displaying betting brands.
• Dust2 Brasil cancelled its remaining BetBoom Storm events, citing “due to circumstances beyond the control of the parties involved.”

Players and sponsorships feel the impact

Coach Pablo “disturbed” Fernandes confirmed on social media that he was a free agent. The primary report said he attributed being without a contract to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In his social media post, Fernandes announced that he was a free agent without a contractual tie and attributed the situation to Brazil’s president.

The reported developments point to a clear, though still developing, adjustment: two organisations have left CS2, three have changed sponsor messaging, two were still displaying betting brands, and one betting-branded event series has been scrapped. The changes underline the commercial role betting partnerships play in esports, a wider issue explored in Esports Insider’s coverage of gambling-related esports partnerships.

Counter-Strike organisations also face other pressures around sustainable revenue, including the changing economics of CS2 sticker income. The sponsorship adjustments and cancellations in Brazil show how regulatory developments can affect not only team operations but also the events and commercial channels around the game.

What comes next?

Keyd Stars’ return date to Counter-Strike remains unknown, while the primary report gave no replacement dates or alternative events for the cancelled BetBoom Storm series. It also did not establish whether Legacy’s Rainbet or Imperial’s Gamdom partnership will continue under the restrictions.

For players and staff, the immediate consequence is a search for new opportunities and organisational backing. For Brazil’s CS2 scene, the next steps will depend on how teams and tournament operators adapt their commercial arrangements as the rules take effect.

The post Betting Crackdown Reshapes Brazil’s CS2 Scene appeared first on Esports Insider.