Rugby

Feb 4, 2024, 06:25 PM Former Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Barry John has died aged 79, his family said on Sunday. “Barry John died peacefully today at the University Hospital of Wales surrounded by his loving wife and four children,” a family statement said. John made his Wales debut in 1966, making

Feb 3, 2024, 08:16 PM Open Extended Reactions Scotland players were left bitterly disappointed after their epic 27-26 victory over Wales on Saturday, with coach Gregor Townsend admitting their decision making was poor. Scotland led 27-0 after 45 minutes and were cruising to what seemed like it would be a record victory, but let Wales

Feb 1, 2024, 09:42 AM Duhan van der Merwe scored two tries as Scotland claimed a dramatic first win in Cardiff for 22 years after withstanding a remarkable fightback from Wales to seal a 27-26 victory on Saturday. Pierre Schoeman also crossed for a try for the visitors who led 27-0 early in the second

Feb 1, 2024, 09:40 AM England recovered from a slow start to begin their Six Nations campaign with a win over Italy in Rome. Getty England recovered from a scruffy start and a 17-8 deficit to beat Italy 27-24 in their opening Six Nations game in Rome on Saturday, ending a run of four successive opening

Feb 1, 2024, 03:56 PM Open Extended Reactions The 2024 Six Nations gets underway this weekend and Wales will begin their campaign against Scotland on Saturday without the experience of George North, who misses out with a shoulder injury. The winger is the most capped member in Wales’ 34-man squad and the game against Scotland

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 1, 2024, 02:00 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 England have named uncapped Fraser Dingwall and Ethan Roots in their starting team for Saturday’s Six

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 1, 2024, 09:27 AM 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 Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony is one of five new captains at this year’s Six Nations. Photo by Damien

Feb 1, 2024, 03:58 AM Open Extended Reactions The All Blacks will play 14 Tests in Scott Robertson’s first season in charge, including a match against Fiji in southern California. The Fiji clash in San Diego on July 19 comes a week after the All Blacks wrap up a two-Test series against England at Eden

Jan 31, 2024, 03:56 PM Open Extended Reactions Jack Crowley will make his first Six Nations start against France on Friday night. Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images The 2024 Six Nations gets underway this weekend and holders Ireland will have a new look at fly-half with Jack Crowley named at No. 10 to fill the void

Jan 30, 2024, 09:34 AM Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith is in doubt for England’s Six Nations opener against Italy. Photo by David Ramos – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images England fly-half Marcus Smith limped off during a training session on Monday and could be sidelined for this weekend’s Six Nations opener against Italy With

Jan 27, 2024, 11:35 AM Open Extended Reactions South Africa‘s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been admitted to hospital after a freak accident left him with chemical burns, but he is expected to be back at work next month, officials confirmed on Saturday. Erasmus, who has masterminded back-to-back Rugby World Cup wins for the

Jan 23, 2024, 10:14 AM Open Extended Reactions Twickenham was vandalised with red paint and “Free Gaza” spray-painted on the walls on Tuesday morning after a protest against a military vehicles event being held at the stadium. Protestors gathered outside the home of English rugby on Monday and shouted “RFU is covered in Palestinian blood”

AAP with ESPN staff Jan 23, 2024, 03:07 AM Open Extended Reactions The Wallabies are in good hands with new coach Joe Schmidt, All Blacks mentor Scott Robertson says, and he’s expecting Australia to bounce back for the annual Bledisloe Cup battle. Both nations have replaced their coach since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 22, 2024, 07:16 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 Top 14 giants Racing 92 have announced the signing of England and Saracens star Owen Farrell

Jan 19, 2024, 03:59 PM Open Extended Reactions USA Rugby, Major League Rugby (MLR) and World Rugby announced a partnership on Friday to launch a new expansion club to promote the development of the game in the U.S. as the country prepares to host the Rugby World Cup. The new club Anthem Rugby Carolina (RC),

Jan 19, 2024, 01:00 AM Open Extended Reactions Rugby Australia have confirmed former Ireland head coach and All Blacks assistant Joe Schmidt will take over as Wallabies boss for the next two seasons, taking him to at least the end of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour. Close to three months after Eddie Jones

Jan 19, 2024, 02:18 AM Open Extended Reactions South Africa World Cup winner Elton Jantjies has been suspended for four years after being found guilty of using the banned substance Clenbuterol, the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) announced on Thursday. Flyhalf Jantjies, now 33, was part of the Springbok squad that lifted

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 18, 2024, 12:26 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 Ex-Northampton Saints player Harry Mallinder has joined Louis Rees-Zammit in chasing the dream of playing in