Rugby

Mar 5, 2024, 04:13 PM Open Extended Reactions The final straight of the 2024 Six Nations is coming into view as teams head into Round 4. Ireland have been flawless so far and are now two games away from being the first team to win back-to-back Grand Slams since the Six Nations era began in

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auMar 6, 2024, 12:47 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

Mar 5, 2024, 10:47 PM Open Extended Reactions The Hurricanes will apologise to New Zealand’s government after a haka performed by their women’s side labelled the coalition “redneck”, local media reported on Tuesday. The team, known as the Poua, performed an altered haka using the phrase “karetao o te Kāwana kakiwhero”, or “puppets of this

Mar 4, 2024, 01:40 PM Open Extended Reactions Italy flanker Jake Polledri has announced his retirement from professional rugby at the age of 28, having failed to recover completely from a serious knee injury, he said on Monday. Polledri, born in England, qualified for Italy through his grandparents and played for them at Under-20 level

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auMar 3, 2024, 11:55 PM 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

Mar 3, 2024, 08:07 PM Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell have returned to the England‘s squad ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham after head coach Steve Borthwick made three changes to his initial team on Sunday. ESPN reported on Monday that Smith and Mitchell were nearing their returns

Mar 1, 2024, 03:41 AM Open Extended Reactions Smart mouthguards will remain compulsory for players in Super Rugby Pacific but organisers have temporarily tweaked the rules over their use from this weekend’s second round after technical issues in the season-opening matches last week. The mouthguards (iMGs), which are compulsory in training and matches this season,

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auFeb 29, 2024, 10:10 PM 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

Liam Napier Feb 28, 2024, 10:49 PM Open Extended Reactions Dedicated and intensely driven, incoming Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt doesn’t do half measures. Daniel Halangahu, the former Waratahs playmaker turned Blues assistant coach, knew of Schmidt’s standing long before he joined the Auckland franchise for a one-off stint two years ago. As Schmidt prepared to

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 26, 2024, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith had been absent due to a calf injury. Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images England

Feb 1, 2024, 10:39 AM Italy were denied a first away win against France in almost three decades and a first in the Six Nations as Paolo Garbisi’s last-gasp penalty hit the post in a 13-13 stalemate on Sunday. Garbisi almost ran out of time to kick the penalty after the 80th minute, before watching

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 24, 2024, 07:40 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions EDINBURGH, Scotland — England must be sick of the sight of Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe.

Feb 1, 2024, 10:28 AM Duhan van der Merwe powered Scotland to a historic win over England on Saturday. Getty Duhan van der Merwe scored a superb hat trick as Scotland beat England 30-21 at Murrayfield on Saturday to claim a fourth successive championship win in the fixture for the first time since 1896. England, seeking

Feb 1, 2024, 09:55 AM Ireland comfortably overcame Wales to extend their unbeaten run in this year’s Six Nations. Getty Grand slam-chasing Ireland made it three bonus-point Six Nations wins from three against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, racking up their 18th successive home win in the process with a 31-7 victory. The hosts

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 23, 2024, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions EDINBURGH, Scotland — Jamie George has said England are happy being the underdogs heading into Saturday’s

Feb 23, 2024, 05:34 PM Open Extended Reactions Former England flanker Courtney Lawes will leave Northampton and join France second-tier side CA Brive at the end of the season. Lawes, 35, retired from international duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France after earning 105 caps for his country. He has played over 270

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 22, 2024, 10:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions EDINBURGH, Scotland — When head coach Steve Borthwick offered Jamie George the chance to become England

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 22, 2024, 03:06 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions England have made five changes for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Murrayfield in the