CM 2027 féminin : la France vise une victoire en Pologne pour rester …

Actuellement deuxième derrière les Pays-Bas, les Françaises doivent s’imposer en Pologne pour rester au contact des Néerlandaises pour la place qualificative directe à la Coupe du monde féminine 2027 au Brésil.

À deux matchs de son groupe A2 de qualifications pour la Coupe du monde féminine 2027 qui se tiendra au Brésil, l’équipe de France n’est pas encore sur de voir la compétition. Les Bleues de Laurent Bonadei sont placées à la deuxième place à un point du leader, les Pays-Bas. Un adversaire contre qui elles ont perdu à Breda (2-1) et fait match nul sur le territoire français à Auxerre (1-1). catcross.biz

La France, vainqueur à l’aller 4-1

Pour son cinquième match, l’équipe de France féminine est à Gdansk pour défier, à 16h GMT, la Pologne. Une rencontre dirigée par l’arbitre anglaise Kirsty Dowle et que les Bleues doivent gagner pour pouvoir se qualifier pour le Mondial brésilien et éviter les barrages. A l’aller, les Bleues avaient gagné 4-1 contre la 24e nation au classement FIFA. Une sélection qui compte notamment la capitaine et attaquante Ewa Pajor, double championne d’Europe avec Barcelone mais aussi des joueuses d’Arkema Première Ligue avec la défenseure du PSG Paulina Dudek, l’attaquante de Dijon, Nadia Krezyman ou celle du Paris FC, Klaudia Jedlińska. Pour ce match décisif, Laurent Bonadei peut compter sur un groupe complet. « Toutes les joueuses sont aptes, nous n’avons pas de problème particulier », a confié le coach des Tricolores à la FFF.

The post CM 2027 féminin : la France vise une victoire en Pologne pour rester dans la course à la qualification appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Orlando Pirates are expected to face increasing pressure to sell Relebohile Mofokeng after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, regardless of how he performs for Bafana Bafana.

The 21-year-old enjoyed another outstanding season for the Buccaneers, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists across all competitions.

His performances have further strengthened his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in South African football.

Having spent four years with the club’s senior setup, many supporters believe this could be the ideal time for “President ya ma 2K” to take the next step in his career and move abroad.

According to transfer analysts, Mofokeng is currently valued at around R68 million, which is just over €3 million. That valuation however, could rise significantly depending on his performances at the World Cup.

How much can Orlando Pirates get for Mofokeng?

The answer will largely depend on what Mofokeng does on football’s biggest stage.

If Hugo Broos’ side progresses beyond the group stage, the young winger could find himself attracting serious interest from clubs across Europe and beyond.

Bafana Bafana‘s opening match against Mexico could be particularly important. With a global audience expected to tune in, a standout display from Mofokeng would instantly place him in the spotlight.

Just two or three impressive performances at the tournament could be enough to attract clubs willing to spend substantially more than his current market valuation.

In that scenario, Pirates could find themselves negotiating offers well above R100 million.

While a fee in the region of R200 million may be ambitious, a successful World Cup campaign could certainly push his value into record-breaking territory for a South African-based player.

Mofokeng is still waiting for a defining performance in Bafana Bafana colours, but major tournaments have a habit of creating stars overnight.

Mofokeng may have played his last match for Pirates

A goal, an assist, or a Man of the Match display on the world stage could dramatically change both his profile and transfer value.

Although a R200 million transfer remains unlikely at this stage, a fee exceeding R100 million would not be unrealistic if Mofokeng becomes a regular starter and delivers strong performances during the World Cup.

How much should Mofokeng go for?

Springbok fever is soon set to take hold of South Africa as the world champions will soon be back in action as their 2026 season kicks off against the Barbarians on 20 June.

However, before the real business of Test rugby once again takes centre stage, it is always interesting to reflect on some miscellaneous facts and figures.

With this in mind, the outstanding Springbok history website Bokhist has kept track of where all Springbok players were born, with 72 hailing from Cape Town – perhaps unsurprisingly.

There have been 46 players born in Pretoria, and 43 in Johannesburg, with Gauteng another understandable hub of talent.

Yet, it’s fascinating to see that as many as 36 Springbok players were born in the relatively small Western Cape town of Paarl. Having said that, it does stand to reason when considering the powerhouse Paarl rugby schools that have always been a hotbed for talent.

Tied fifth on the list are Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Port Elizabeth – where 27 players have been born – while 26 hail from Durban.

check out the full list of where most Springbok players born

2026 fixtures (kick off times in SA time)

• Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians
  • Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
  • Kick-off: 15:00

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Nations Championship

• Saturday 4 July: Boks v England
  • Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
  • Kick-off: 17:40
• Saturday 11 July: Boks v Scotland
  • Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
  • Kick-off: 17:40
• Saturday 18 July: Boks v Wales
  • Venue: Kings Park, Durban
  • Kick-off: 17:40

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Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (v All Blacks)

• Saturday 22 August: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
  • Kick-off: 17:00
• Saturday 29 August: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
  • Kick-off: 17:00
• Saturday 5 September: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
  • Kick-off: 17:00
• Saturday 12 September: Boks v All Blacks
  • Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
  • Kick-off: 18:00 (Expected)

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Once-off Test

• Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Boks
  • Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
  • Kick-off: 11:30

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Nations Championship (End of Year Tour)

• Saturday 7 November: Italy v Boks
  • Venue: Venue TBC
  • Kick-off: 16:00
• Friday 13 November: France v Boks
  • Venue: Stade de France, Paris
  • Kick-off: 22:00
• Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Boks
  • Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
  • Kick-off: 19:30
• 27–29 November: Finals Weekend
  • Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
  • Kick-off: TBC

Coach Johan Ackermann has made three changes to the Vodacom Bulls bench for Saturday’s URC semi-final against the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield.

Springbok tighthead prop Wilco Louw, who missed the quarter-final win against Munster due to bronchitis, replaces Mornay Smith, scrumhalf Zak Burger comes in for the injured Paul de Wet, while injured winger Sergeal Petersen’s place is taken by No 8 Nizaam Carr.

The starting XV remains the same, with Francois Klopper retaining the No 3 jersey.

Captain Marcell Coetzee will earn his 100th Bulls cap and hooker Johan Grobbelaar his 150th.

MORE: 150 up for Grobbies as Bulls eye Glasgow upset

“It’s a great privilege to be in the URC semi-final,” said Ackermann. “After a long season there are only four clubs left, and we are grateful to be one of those and to play the No 1 side. It shows the quality of their players and we have a lot of respect for what they’ve achieved. Added to that is the opportunity to play at an iconic venue like Murrayfield.

“It will be an amazing day. It’s a good challenge and one we look forward to, a game of small margins, I suspect.”

TEAM: Franco bolsters Glasgow bench for Bulls clash

BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Nizaam Carr.

Weekend teams

Photo: Vodacom Bulls

The post Bulls welcome back Wilco for semi-final appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Ireland have followed the Springboks’ lead in securing the long-term services of head coach Andy Farrell.

The 50-year-old signed a contract extension with the IRFU which will keep him in charge through to the 2031 World Cup in the USA.

There had been speculation that Farrell could replace Steve Borthwick as England head coach after the 2027 World Cup.

But the IRFU has moved to retain one of the game’s most highly regarded coaches for another four years.

“I am incredibly proud to continue this journey with Irish Rugby,” Farrell said. “It is a privilege to work with such a talented group of players and staff, and to represent the supporters whose passion and unwavering support drive this team forward and inspire us every time we take the field.”

KEO: Dream SA final would be Rassie’s nightmare

In December, SA Rugby extended two-time World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus’ contract until 2031, along with his key lieutenants.

Farrell succeeded Joe Schmidt in 2019 and has overseen one of the most successful periods in Irish rugby history.

Under his guidance, Ireland won Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2025, including a Grand Slam in 2023, while consistently holding a place among the world’s top-ranked teams. However, Ireland have still failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup.

Farrell also enhanced his reputation on the international stage by guiding the British & Irish Lions to a series victory in Australia in 2025.

ALSO: Kiwi to ref Boks vs England at Ellis Park

IRFU CEO Kevin Potts welcomed the extension, describing Farrell as a “world-class coach and exceptional leader” whose influence extends far beyond results on the field.

Farrell said: “What excites me most is the increasing strength and investment in pathways and the quality of talent coming through.

“There is a real confidence in the system that has been built across the provinces and age-grade programmes, and I believe the best is yet to come.”

Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

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