Durban clubs head for Singapore Sevens

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Two Durban rugby teams were scheduled to fly out of the city today with vastly different expectations ahead of this weekend's 55th annual Singapore International ...

Ollie's 'pupil' Coetzee steps in

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Eduard Coetzee, the 115kg understudy to Ollie le Roux at the Natal Sharks, is determined to make the most of his chance in the Currie Cup semifinal against the Blus ...

Sharks ready for bruisers from the north

Mike Mcgrath|Published

The Sharks have announced their team to face the Bulls in the Currie Cup semifinal, and its seems that coach Kevin Putt is succeeding in his call for cool heads ...

Glory beckons for Snyman and Sharks

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Andre Snyman's form in 2002 has mirrored that of the Sharks' often bumpy route to potential riches. Just when you'd expect him to produce his best, he's been sidelined ...

Straeuli succeeds where others failed

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli has achieved something none of his predecessors were able to do - persuade his provincial counterparts to release their leading players ...

Sharks get it going in last 10 minutes

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Every so often coach Kevin Putt allows his perfectionist side to emerge in his quest to revive the Sharks' glory days. Such as when he dissected Saturday's late, ...

Mendez signs off at the Sharks

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Puma front-ranker Federico Mendez has signed off at the Sharks by putting the likes of Lucas van Biljon and John Smit through a 20-minute scrummaging lesson which ...

Mendez to bid sad farewell to Sharks

Mike Mcgrath|Published

The return to fitness of Natal hookers John Smit and Lukas van Biljon means Argentinian prop Federico Mendez will bid an emotional farewell to the Sharks after their ...

Nuggety Kayser has golden game

Mike Mcgrath|Published

You name it, Deon Kayser's got it - lightning speed, slick hands, a nose for the half-gap, the determination to stop physically bigger opponents in their tracks, ...

Sharks ready to bite against Pumas

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Kevin Putt believes the best has yet to come from his table-topping Sharks. Despite his previous criticisms of the side, not even Putt can argue with the Sharks' ...

Ollie and Albert take a break

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Ollie le Roux and Albert van den Berg have both been rested for the Sharks' penultimate Bankfin Currie Cup Section Y encounter against the Mpumalanga Pumas. Fortunately, ...

Bulls dig in to pull off a draw with Sharks

Mike Mcgrath|Published

A crowd of 41 051 flocked to the Bullring to witness a ferocious comeback from the home team, although the Sharks deserve equally as many plaudits for the manner ...

Sharks take to the road

Mike Mcgrath|Published

The organisers of the AmaShovashova Classic cycle race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban rolled out the heavyweights at the Durban launch when they revealed that the ...

Oh-so-close for the Sharks

Mike Mcgrath|Published

The Sharks have failed to make it three wins in a row under new coach Kevin Putt. They were beaten 37-34 at their home ground by the Crusaders, thanks to a penalty ...

Hockey star Cullen sets his sights on Athens

Mike Mcgrath|Published

KwaZulu-Natal Hockey have taken the unprecedented step of granting KZN Raiders star Michael Cullen a benefit season. Mike McGrath caught up with one of the nominees ...

Polo's Christine left high and dry by mix-up

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Christine Barretto has survived major obstacles to her burgeoning reputation as one of the top South African waterpolo players. . . until the latest sickening blow ...

We'll sulk, then get on with it - Straeuli

Mike Mcgrath|Published

We'll sulk, then get on with it- StraeuliMike McGrath in Durban"WE won't let this get us down. Give the guys 24 hours to sulk about it, and then get on with it," ...

Mr Price bites at Sharks sponsor deal

Mike Mcgrath|Published

The Sharks' search for new team sponsors has ended close to home with the clinching of a massive R54-million, seven-year deal with Durban-based clothing retail giants ...

Enjoyable down to earth chance encounter

Mike Mcgrath|Published

The days when rugby was THE winter sport seem to have gone. Now, at least, pupils finally have a choice should they wish to pursue a particular sport, as Mike McGrath ...

Celebrations but moments of sadness too

Mike Mcgrath|Published

One of the joys of sport, much as in life itself, lies in its unpredictability. There is no such animal as a sure thing, regardless of what the experts may say - ...

Heads won't roll over Ellis Park tragedy

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Mike McGrath writes that good old fashioned greed was responsible for the deaths of 43 football fans at Ellis Park last Wednesday night, but that South Africans ...

Do yourself a favour and turn on the radio

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Visually television may provide the next best thing to actually being at a major sporting event, but if you want to sit back, savour the moments and let your imagination ...

Who'll foot the bill for political football?

Mike Mcgrath|Published

There's been plenty of talk about the proposed new R150-million "Fifa-approved" soccer stadium in Durban. But, asks Mike McGrath, who is going to foot the bill not ...

Safa's policy on Radebe to haunt SA football

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Mike McGrath argues that the compromise on Lucas Radebe's international future will come back to haunt Bafana as other English clubs with South African players take ...

Highlanders ready to peak

Mike Mcgrath|Published

Despites the obstacles involved in predicting a Super 12 winner, Mike McGrath risks ridicule and puts his money on the New Zealand Highlanders.