Newskoop Front Row Rugby

Front Row Rugby

Step into the world of Front Row Rugby and experience the thrill of Springbok Rugby like never before! Our presenter, Peter Stemmet, is an award-winning sports journalist who’s lived and breathed rugby for years. With his passion for the sport, you’re guaranteed to be in for a treat. Get ready to meet some of your favourite Bok heroes from the past and relive their greatest moments. Peter’s dream is to bring Front Row Rugby to life on a permanent basis, and you can help make that a reality. All it takes is a simple subscribe and share with your friends. Together, let’s bring the excitement of Springbok Rugby to the forefront.
Weekly English South Africa Rugby · Sports
155 Episodes
20 – 40

Unappreciated Achiever: Springbok Coach Heyneke Meyer’s Story

After missing out on the Springbok coaching job in 2008, Heyneke Meyer fulfilled a lifelong ambition of becoming the Bok boss four years later. In this fascinating discussion Meyer opens up about what really happened during an exciting period in South African rugby. Heyneke led the Springboks to consecutive unbeaten…
29 Jul 50 min

Nerves Of Steel: Louis Koen's Springbok Story

Louis Koen was one of the most accurate goalkickers in South African rugby in the late 90s but he had to wait until 2000 for his first Springbok Test cap. And then after just one appearance he was out of the picture for nearly 18 months before another short stint…
22 Jul 45 min

Springbok Dream Fulfilled: Ricardo Loubscher’s Bok Journey

Ricardo Loubscher burst onto the South African rugby scene in the 1990s as an exciting fullback. Opportunities were limited but eventually he realised a lifelong dream by making his Springbok Test debut against Wales in 2002. Sadly, injury struck, and he had to wait almost exactly a year for his…
15 Jul 27 min

A Flash of Springbok Brilliance With Grant Esterhuizen

He made his senior provincial debut for the Blue Bulls in 1996. Esterhuizen made his test match debut for the Springboks as a substitute against New Zealand at Jade Stadium, Christchurch in 2000 and played in seven test matches during the 2000 rugby season. In 2003, he represented South Africa…
8 Jul 30 min

Special Springbok Memories: Chris Badenhorst’s Bok Career

Chris Badenhorst was one of the speediest wingers in South African rugby in the early to middle 90s. Unfortunately, he faced tough competition for a Springbok place from the likes of James Small, Chester Williams, Pieter Hendriks and Jacques Olivier. Nevertheless, Badenhorst made his presence felt though and ran out…
1 Jul 18 min

The Extraordinary Springbok Coaching Career of Nick Mallett

Nick Mallett is a legendary name in South African rugby. In 1997 Mallett took over a struggling Springbok team and immediately transformed them into an unbeatable machine that would go on and win 17 consecutive Test matches – a world record at the time. During that time Mallett’s Springboks thrilled…
24 Jun 1 hr 31 min

Strength & Adversity: Willie Meyer’s Incredible Springbok Career

In the late 90s and early 00s Willie Meyer had a reputation as one of the most ferocious scrummagers in rugby. Patiently he waited for his Springbok debut. It came at the age of 30 and Meyer went on to have five years in the famous green and gold jersey…
18 Jun 30 min

Short But Sweet: Wayne Fyvie’s Springbok Journey

In the mid-to-late 1990s Wayne Fyvie was one of the powerhouse loose forwards in South African rugby. He finally got his chance to represent the Springboks, off the bench, against the All Blacks at Loftus in 1996. Unfortunately, it ended in defeat rendering that Bok group the first to lose…
10 Jun 32 min

When Opportunity Knocks: Springbok hero Charl Marais

At the start of 1998 Charl Marais was behind Naka Drotske in the Free State Cheetahs pecking order. Drotske himself was behind James Dalton in the Springbok hierarchy. Marais moved to Cape Town, made the Western Province and Stormers sides and approximately a year later made his Springbok debut against…
3 Jun 45 min

Tormentor of the All Blacks: Springbok hero Marius Joubert

In 2001 Marius Joubert made his Springbok debut and was injured before the final whistle blew. That match was against the All Blacks and as it turned out both the New Zealanders and injuries would ultimately define his career. At his best he was a skilful outside centre, full of…
27 May 38 min

A World Cup Winner’s Journey: Springbok BJ Botha’s Tale

In 2006 BJ Botha made his Springbok debut against the All Blacks at Loftus. Less than 15 months later he was a Rugby World Cup winner. In this remarkable discussion, BJ takes us back to those days as Jake White was building a team that would go on to win…
20 May 41 min

Springbok History Maker: Kaya Malotana’s Dream Cut Short

In 1999 Kaya Malotana made history by becoming the first black man to play a Test match for the Springboks. Kaya made his debut against Spain at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in a big win for the Boks. Unfortunately due to a series of injuries, Malotana would not get…
13 May 43 min

It Ended Way Too Soon: Justin Swart’s Springbok Career

Prepare yourself for a fun journey back to the mid-90s when Justin Swart appeared to have the rugby world at his feet. An explosive wing, he made his Springbok debut in 1996 and performed admirably. However he soon found himself out of the picture but after switching to fullback he…
6 May 28 min

Rising From The Ashes: Springbok World Champion Wikus Van Heerden

Being the son of a Springbok legend brings its own pressures. Wikus Van Heerden’s father Moaner represented the Boks with distinction and in 2003 the younger Van Heerden received his chance. After an impressive start Wikus suffered an injury and was out of the picture for four years. But then…
29 Apr 23 min

Springbok Walk Of Faith: The Remarkable Story of Drikus Hattingh

Imagine being a Springbok some six months out from the 1995 Rugby World Cup and just walking away. Well, that’s exactly what Drikus Hattingh did in late 1994. Buckle up for a fascinating conversation as Drikus takes us on a journey that is nothing short of unbelievable. While on tour…
23 Apr 24 min

Tales Of A Springbok World Champion: Garry Pagel

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride back in time with 1995 Rugby World Cup champion Garry Pagel. Garry was part of the successful Springbok team that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup and he actually made his debut for the Boks in the tournament’s opening match against Australia. In this candid…
15 Apr 22 min

A Moment In Springbok Time With Mornay Visser

Mornay Visser was one of the most exciting hookers in South African domestic rugby in 1994/95. Unlucky to be playing at the same time as Uli Schmidt, James Dalton, Chris Rossouw, John Allan and Naka Drotske, Visser nevertheless made enough of an impression to be called up to the Springbok…
8 Apr 26 min

The True Springbok Story of Richard Bands

When Richard Bands barnstormed his way across 40 metres, manhandling All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer on his way to the tryline, to score a famous five-pointer for South Africa he guaranteed his name as a legend in Springbok rugby history. But there’s so much more to the great man. In…
2 Apr 21 min

Best Springbok Memories With Dan Van Zyl

Fasten your seatbelt for an exciting journey back to the late 1990s with Springbok scrumhalf Dan Van Zyl. Dan was unlucky to be a great Number Nine in the same era as Joost Van Der Westhuizen, Werner Swanepoel and several others. Nevertheless, Dan left his mark on Bok rugby by…
25 Mar 37 min

Special Springbok Stories with Werner Swanepoel

Get ready for a memorable journey to the late 90s with the Smiling Springbok Werner Swanepoel. Werner made his Bok debut in 1997 after serving as an understudy to the legendary Joost Van Der Westhuizen. Even though Swanepoel largely deputised for Joost, he still managed to make an impact every…
18 Mar 34 min
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