RUGBY WRAP: Stormers to host second URC Grand Final; Munster achieve the unthinkable; Blitzboks with plenty of work to do and more!

URC SFs: Stormers make it back-to-back Cape Town finals, Munster spoil Leinster party

The Stormers were too good for Connacht in their URC semi-final encounter in the Cape, coming away with a 43-25 win while a last-gasp Jack Crowley drop goal saw Munster upset Leinster 16-15 in Dublin in a breathtaking showdown between the two foes.

The results mean it is the defending champion Stormers who will host this season’s Grand Final yet again, with Graham Rowntree’s side, who claimed a two-point win in Cape Town just last month, set to make the trip to the Mother City in a fortnight.

Toulouse Sevens: Blitzboks take long route to Olympics, Kiwis claim championship title

The Blitzboks fell 21-19 to Australia in the fifth-placed semi-finals in Toulouse on the weekend, meaning they will have to compete in the Rugby Africa Sevens Cup later in the year in order to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Meanwhile, New Zealand wrapped up their 13^th championship title thanks to a 24-19 extra-time defeat of Argentina in the Cup final on Sunday. Ahead of the final leg in London, the South Americans are second, followed by France, Fiji, Australia, Samoa and seventh-placed South Africa.

Currie Cup R10: Sharks come back to down defending champs, Cheetahs thwarted by Lions

The third-placed Sharks registered a comeback 24-22 win over a 14-man Pumas outfit at Mbombela to narrow the gap on the defending champs to just two-points. The Cheetahs continue to top the log despite their 26-33 home loss to the Golden Lions, while the Griffons were narrowly beaten by Western Province (21-25) in Welkom and the Griquas fell 20-40 to a powerful Bulls lineup in Kimberley.

Prem SFs: Sarries and Sale book date for Twickenham

Saracens breezed past Northampton 38-15 at the StoneX on Saturday to make their second straight final, while Sale Sharks saw off defending champions Leicester Tigers at the AJ Bell on Sunday. With Sarries having topped the table and Sale ending up second, the showdown will rightfully be played out between the two strongest sides this season at Twickenham on 27 May.

Top 14 R25: Toulouse and La Rochelle on the receiving end

Leaders Toulouse fell 21-26 at 13^th-placed Perpignan, while second-placed La Rochelle copped a 42-31 defeat to last year’s winners Montpellier at the GGL in the penultimate round of Top 14 action. Elsewhere, fifth-placed Bordeaux blanked visitors Pau 28-0, there were narrow wins for Castres at Brive (16-13) and hosts Bayonne over Clermont (21-18), fourth-placed Racing eased to a 43-7 win over Toulon at La Defense Arena and Stade Francais (third) and Lyon (sixth) played out a 31-all draw.

The final round gets underway on 28 May.

SR Pacific R11: Chiefs cop first loss, Saders beat Blues

The Reds inflicted the Chiefs with their first defeat of the season in a 25-22 result at Yarrow Stadium, while the Crusaders held firm in a 15-3 win over the Blues in Christchurch. Elsewhere, the Force beat Drua 34-14 in Perth, the Hurricanes smacked winless Moana Pasifika 71-22 in Wellington, the Waratahs beat the Rebels 38-20 in Sydney and the second-placed Brumbies claimed a 48-32 win over the Highlanders in Canberra.