Rugby

Jul 5, 2024, 10:24 AM Open Extended Reactions England captain Jamie George has challenged his players to make a strong impression on their New Zealand counterparts after winger Sevu Reece said he did not know much about the touring side. The teams meet on Saturday’s series-opener in Dunedin for their first Test since a 25-25

Open Extended Reactions First-year All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has handed the No. 15 jersey to Stephen Perofeta ahead of Beauden Barrett for the opening Test against England in Dunedin. Robertson has otherwise named a predictable line-up, with TJ Perenara set to play his first Test since 2022 after beating out Finlay Christie at scrum-half.

Jul 2, 2024, 02:00 AM Open Extended Reactions The two rugby hemispheres are back together for the first time since the Rugby World Cup, with a bumper Test calendar set to play out across the globe in July. World champions South Africa welcome Ireland to the Republic for a showdown that has already had quite

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auJul 1, 2024, 05:38 AM Close Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Open Extended Reactions

Jun 30, 2024, 11:16 PM Open Extended Reactions Scans on Kurtley Beale are expected to confirm the recalled Wallabies veteran has ruptured his Achilles, possibly bringing an end to his rugby career. The 35-year-old, who was last week announced in Joe Schmidt’s maiden 38-man squad, was helped from the field during a Sydney club rugby

Jun 27, 2024, 09:59 AM Open Extended Reactions Michael Chieka has joined Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers as head coach. Photo by David Ramos – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images Leicester Tigers have appointed Michael Cheika as their new head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Premiership Rugby club announced on Thursday. The 57-year-old

Jun 27, 2024, 02:11 AM Open Extended Reactions Siya Kolisi will captain South Africa in their two-Test series against Ireland in July, while key backline players Willie le Roux and Cheslin Kolbe will be fit to play, coach Rassie Erasmus said on Wednesday. Erasmus had been reluctant to name a captain ahead of the series

Jun 25, 2024, 11:50 PM Open Extended Reactions Anticipation reached fever pitch as Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson unveiled his maiden All Blacks squad in Christchurch this week. A tight 32-man group for three Tests in July – two against England – sparked highly contestable selections which, as always, divided opinion. Liam Napier breaks down the contentious

Jun 24, 2024, 02:43 PM Open Extended Reactions Dewi Lake will captain Wales for the tour of Australia next month. Getty Hooker Dewi Lake will captain Wales on their two-Test tour of Australia next month, as coach Warren Gatland named three uncapped players in an inexperienced squad ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup that will

Open Extended Reactions Scott Robertson is finally under way as All Blacks coach, the 49-year-old making one massive call as he named a 32-man squad for Tests against England and Fiji next month. While Robertson has included five potential debutants, the omission of Blues No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu is the main talking point after the

Jun 23, 2024, 06:51 PM Open Extended Reactions South Africa have qualified for the men’s Rugby Sevens competition at the Paris Olympics following a 14-5 victory over Britain in Sunday’s final of the Repechage qualification tournament being staged in Monaco. Quewin Nortje and Shilton van Wyk both scored tries for South Africa in the first-half

Jun 23, 2024, 03:03 PM Open Extended Reactions Nick Isiekwe won his first England cap in 2017. Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images England have called up lock Nick Isiekwe for their two-test tour of New Zealand to replace the suspended Charlie Ewels, who has been handed a two-match ban following his red card in the

Jun 22, 2024, 05:06 PM Open Extended Reactions A much-changed South Africa scored five tries to defeat Wales 41-13 in a one-off test at Twickenham on Saturday in their first fixture since they won the Rugby World Cup in France nine months ago. It was a far from polished performance from the South African side

Jun 21, 2024, 01:25 PM Marcus Smith scored 13 points for England as they cruised to victory over Japan. Getty England began their summer tour with a dominant 52-17 win — that featured eight tries — over Eddie Jones’ Japan in Tokyo on Saturday. Marcus Smith was central to England’s win, with the fly-half scoring 13

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auJun 21, 2024, 02:03 AM Close Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Open Extended Reactions

Jun 19, 2024, 01:02 PM Open Extended Reactions Rugby world champions South Africa have named uncapped Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing in a much-changed squad to face Wales in a one-off Test at Twickenham on Saturday. Hendrikse, 22, has been preferred to World Cup winner Manie Libbok in

Jun 18, 2024, 05:16 PM Open Extended Reactions Jamison Gibson-Park misses Ireland’s South Africa tour with a hamstring injury. Getty Ireland will take 35 players to South Africa for their two-Test series next month but first-choice scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been ruled out due to injury, Irish Rugby said on Tuesday. Peter O’Mahony will captain the

Jun 18, 2024, 01:27 PM Open Extended Reactions Dewi Lake will captain Wales against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, with scrum-half Ellis Bevan to make his test debut in the clash, coach Warren Gatland announced on Tuesday. Hooker Lake takes over the captaincy from Dayfdd Jenkins, who led the side in the Six Nations