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The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘Sneak peak to our forever': Springbok Vincent Tshituka ties the knot with flair [Videos, Pics]
Springbok flanker Vincent Tshituka and Katlego Monare shared their special day with the nation as the couple stepped into their 'forever'. Springbok Vincent Tshituka and his bride Katlego Monare. Pictures: Instagram/ @vincent_tshituka and Gallo Images Described by fans as 'one of the most wholesome moments in South African rugby off the pitch', Vincent Tshituka's stunning wedding has highlighted the Springbok newbie's growing popularity. The Congolese-born powerhouse flanker embarked on a new chapter in his life, tying the knot with Katlego Monare in an elegant wedding ceremony over the weekend. Vincent's journey from child refugee to Springbok star—now coupled with this joyous personal milestone—has cemented his status as a symbol of resilience and hope in the hearts of our nation. Rugby and romance: Springbok Vincent Tshituka says 'I do' The radiant couple headed to Instagram to showcase their love and stylish flair—from Katlego's stunning gown to Vincent's sharp suit. Springbok and Sharks player Vincent Tshituka and Katlego Monare on their wedding day. Pictures: Instagram/@vincent_tshituka In a joint post, the Tshitukas captioned a series of wedding photos, 'Sneak peek to Our Forever ♾️ Thank you to everybody that celebrated with us and for all the well wishes❤️.' The towering rugby player also shared a personal reflection, describing the occasion as 'the best day of my life❤️'. From the pitch to the altar: Mzansi congratulates Vincent and katlego Tshituka Their posts resonated deeply with fans, who flooded the comment section with messages of love and admiration. One fan wrote, 'So beautiful 😍… Single people will never forget 2024 😂,' while another praised, 'Vincent and Katlego are goals! Wishing them a lifetime of love'. Vincent's teammates from the Sharks and Springboks also joined in, celebrating the flanker's personal milestone. 'Just Married': The Tshitukas share their love with the world Vincent and Katlego also shared videos of their wedding day on their joint TikTok account, V&K, with their more than 24 000 followers. A love story that inspires The spotlight fell on Vincent and Katlego's love story in November last year when the couple posted a video of their lobola ceremony in matching Congolese African print outfits on their TikTok account. The post attracted 240K views, 35K likes, and almost 300 comments from social media users. Against all odds: Vincent Tshituka's rise to Springbok fame The 25-year-old Vincent Tshituka's journey to this moment has been nothing short of remarkable. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he and his family fled to Johannesburg in 2002 as refugees, escaping political unrest. According to RugbyPass, his father, Simon, started out by gathering and selling scrap metal to keep the wolf from the door. Despite these humble beginnings, Vincent rose through the ranks of South African rugby, earning a scholarship to the University of Johannesburg and later starring for the Lions and Sharks. Having captained the Sharks to Currie Cup glory in 2024 and contributed to their EPCR Challenge Cup win, Tshituka's career is on an upward trajectory. His recent inclusion in Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus' squad and Test debut against Italy on 5 July is testament to the talented player's bright future. NOW READ: Rassie names 37 players in Bok squad to take on Australia
The South African
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Why Vincent Tshituka and his family fled Congo
Congolese-born Vincent Tshituka – who scored two tries in his Springbok debut last weekend – has spoken highly of making his dream to play for South Africa a reality. The Sharks player and his brother Emmanuel recently received their official identity documents as naturalised citizens. The Tshitua family arrived in SA in 2002, where they have now laid down their roots. Vincent Tshituka, his parents, and his three siblings fled Congo in 2002 amid political unrest in the country. The family arrived in Johannesburg as refugees struggled to survive. Patriarch Simon Tshituka accepted 'degrading jobs', like combing through trash to sell items. However, their struggles was not something brothers experienced first-hand. Vincent told Rugby Pass: 'My parents protected us so well from the pain they went through. My mum could be crying in the bedroom, but she'd never let us see it. There was no money, but we still had each other and loved each other. The adults took all the bullets and protected us from everything'. Of his ability to 'pay back' his parents, Vincent added: 'I'm actually grateful for it and I always say, there's something beautiful about being the underdog that only the underdog will ever really understand.' Vincent Tshituka and his siblings did not attend rugby-oriented schools in South Africa. However, his raw talent earned him a scholarship to attend the University of Johannesburg, where he was later selected to play for the Lions. After being signed by the Sharks, Vincent revealed his ultimate goal was to become a Springbok. He said last year, 'To pull on the green and gold [jersey] will remain a dream until the day I hang up my boots. 'Considering my background as a foreigner and the fact that I did not go to a traditional rugby school, it's overwhelming. 'Playing for South Africa would be the highest honour.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Sharks (@sharksrugby) Vincent Tshituka's dream to become a Springbok became a reality last week when he made his debut test match appearance against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The Bok newbie scored an impressive two tries. The proud moment came after many delays. Even though both Vincent and his brother Emmanuel had their citizenship and passports, they required an identity document to represent South Africa. After much back-and-forth, the siblings finally received their documentation, which enabled their integration into the national team. In May, the Department of Home Affairs announced that naturalised citizens would now be eligible to receive smart cards. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Millions of Brits receive FREE new sports channel hidden on their TVs – and some mobiles can watch it too
SAMSUNG has added a new hidden sports channel to its TV service, and millions of Brits will be happy to hear it's free. The South Korean tech company already offers a host of no-cost sports content through Samsung TV Plus, but this new channel is a world first. Sports fans will be intrigued by the latest upgrade, which has given viewers a hidden channel. Samsung's TV Plus app is built into their televisions and provides free TV supported by ads. The free streaming service is available on Samsung Smart TVs released between 2016 and 2025. Following a mega update last year, Samsung says its library of content now includes more than 350 live channels. The tech giant is constantly updating the service, and so there's always something new for avid users. The latest upgrade for viewers Fans will be excited to know that Samsung has expanded its large sporting portfolio to include rugby. World Rugby and Samsung have partnered to launch the RugbyPass TV FAST channel. The channel was made available immediately in the UK and will be launching soon in the US. The partnership marks the first time RugbyPass TV content will be available on a FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television) service. With a mix of live international action, feature programming and classic matches, the channel will become a hub for rugby fans who live and breath the sport. Get a glimpse of Samsung's latest mega slim smartphone The reason behind the upgrade The partnership demonstrates a clear move for World Rugby's desire to grow the sport globally by scaling up the global digital footprint. After the rise of stars like Ilona Maher and Antoine Dupont, who have become recognisable faces outside of rugby, the sport has clearly grown internationally, and this partnership will make it more accessible. World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: 'With the US and UK representing two of rugby's most important and promising markets, this exciting collaboration with Samsung TV Plus is a major milestone in our journey to grow the game globally. "Through RugbyPass TV FAST, we're bringing the excitement, diversity, and global appeal of the game to more fans, in more homes, than ever before.' Previous upgrades for viewers 3 On its website, Samsung boasts: "No credit card. No contract. No cables." This is the latest update for Samsung, which has continually grown its sports FAST output. The RugbyPass TV FAST upgrade comes after a huge update last year, where five new channels were added to the in-built app. The five sports channels added in 2024 were: MLB – focused on Major League Baseball replays and recaps PGA TOUR – golfing documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, highlights, recaps, and competitions AHL – live American Hockey League games Formula One Channel – analysis, replays, and documentaries for F1, F2, F3, and F1 Academy races ONE Championship TV – combat sports highlights, series, and behind-the-scenes television Samsung TV Plus also offers on-demand content, with movies and shows all free to access. Viewers wanting to access Samsung Smart TV Plus can watch it on Samsung Smart Monitors, Samsung Family Hub refrigerators, and via the web. It's also available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones: just check for the app, or download it if you don't have it.
Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Streaming shambles forces RFU to show England match on YouTube
England Rugby was forced to fire up its own YouTube channel to live-stream the England XV versus France XV clash at Twickenham after broadcaster RugbyPass's own stream went down. The match was in its early stages when the streaming difficulties became apparent, with the RugbyPass TV site displaying a message that read 'Too many requests'. At that point, Les Bleus led 5-0 thanks to a try from hooker Gaetan Barlot. A Rugby Football Union spokesperson told Telegraph Sport of when they stepped into the breach: 'As soon as we recognised there was an issue with RugbyPass we switched to YouTube. We put notifications on our social channels promptly to alert fans to the change. We will have a full replay of the match on YouTube later this evening 'We apologise to fans for the inconvenience caused in accessing RugbyPass.' When the stream from RugbyPass – which is owned and operated by World Rugby – went down, the platform also pointed to the host union's channel on social media. Posting on X, they said: 'We are aware of the ongoing issues with the RugbyPass app. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.' Viewers were less than impressed with the streaming problems, with one commenter on the Telegraph's live blog saying: 'Couldn't get on Rugby Pass [sic], what a shambles. Leadership in the game choosing an unproven platform is so unprofessional. Ridiculous.' Another said: 'I think their website has crashed and logged me out. I'm trying to get back in!' England will soon embark on their tour of Argentina and the USA. Sky Sports will show the two matches in Argentina, but the clash with the USA Eagles is slated to be shown on RugbyPass.
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Red Bull emerges as potential buyer for Newcastle Falcons
Red Bull has emerged as a potential buyer of Newcastle Falcons, the Premiership club that have been searching for a cash injection over the past year. The energy drinks giant has an investment portfolio that includes several sporting organisations around the world, including the Formula One team that bears its name and Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. It also has had an existing relationship with rugby union for some time through its sponsorship of individual players such as England wing Jack Nowell. Sources indicated that funds could arrive in time for next season, offering scope for the Falcons squad to be bolstered ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Newcastle owner Semore Kurdi announced his intention to sell up in November before it became apparent that Premiership clubs and CVC had been planning a loan of around £4 million to keep Falcons afloat. This latest development, first reported on Thursday by RugbyPass, comes with confirmation of a new, long-term broadcast deal between the Premiership and TNT Sports, which has been hailed as a boost for the league's long-term stability. One senior source in the English game voiced the opinion that the Premiership has 'ridden an almighty storm and made significant progress towards fixing its foundations', which 'will help attract crucial investment'. The Premiership final at Twickenham on June 14 is forecast to reach a sell-out over the coming days, hinting at unprecedented levels of interest. Currently bottom of the Premiership with two wins this season, having experienced persistent turnover of players over recent years, Falcons are seen as a critical part of the English rugby union landscape. Should the Premiership's franchising plans accelerate, a geographical spread of clubs around the country will be vital. Steve Diamond, the Falcons director of rugby, has made no secret of the feeling that Newcastle have been in a 'holding pattern'. The departure of Callum Chick to Northampton Saints, announced last week, was just the latest example of Falcons seeing homegrown stars leave the club. 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙆 𝙔𝙊𝙐, 𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆𝙔 After 170 appearances over nine seasons, club captain Callum Chick will depart Newcastle Falcons at the end of the current campaign. The 28-year-old back-rower heads down to Northampton Saints, insisting he takes nothing but fond memories from… — Newcastle Falcons (@FalconsRugby) May 6, 2025 Ben Redshaw, the highly-rated full-back, is heading to Gloucester over the summer, with hooker Jamie Blamire bound for Leicester Tigers. It is thought that Newcastle will use any new funds to bolster their development pathways and give themselves greater leverage to keep these academy prospects on Tyneside. 'What we need to do is build it up and reinforce the academy first, perhaps bringing in eight senior players in the first year of the project,' said a source. 'Then we can go from there, aiming for established names in year two and beyond. Right now, those bigger names just aren't available.'
