Rugby

Nov 24, 2024, 09:49 PM Open Extended Reactions England fullback Ellie Kildunne was named women’s player of the year at the World Rugby awards on Sunday, while Springboks forward Pieter-Steph du Toit won the men’s award. Editor’s Picks 2 Related France captain Antoine Dupont was named sevens player of the year after steering his country

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 24, 2024, 06:47 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’s win over Japan means everything and nothing. It was one of those nasty tightrope matches

Nov 20, 2024, 08:14 AM England ended their run of five straight defeats with a comprehensive 59-14 demolition of a young Japan team at Twickenham on Sunday, running in nine tries, including two each for hookers Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie. Despite difficult rainy and windy conditions, England sought to keep the ball in hand

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 24, 2024, 07:42 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 Eddie Jones said he was abused by a fan on his return to Twickenham and shrugged

Nov 23, 2024, 08:50 PM Open Extended Reactions Warren Gatland wants to remain as Wales coach. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images Warren Gatland said he wants to remain Wales coach despite a disastrous year in which his side have lost all 11 Tests they have played, but admitted his future was uncertain in the wake of

Nov 20, 2024, 08:10 AM South Africa scored seven tries as they eased to a 45-12 victory over Wales in their autumn international clash in Cardiff on Saturday, inflicting a 12th successive defeat on their hosts to put more pressure on coach Warren Gatland. The contest was more one-sided than the scoreline suggested and only

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 22, 2024, 01:30 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 two changes for Japan on Sunday with Tom Curry and George Furbank both

James Regan Nov 22, 2024, 08:39 AM Open Extended Reactions England’s results this autumn have been underwhelming, with three straight defeats against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The expectation going into November was to beat at least two of those sides. Instead, they are on their worst run of form since 2018 having lost

Nov 21, 2024, 07:45 PM Open Extended Reactions New Zealand’s former captain Sam Cane and scrumhalf TJ Perenara will get the chance to play for the All Blacks for a final time after being picked on Thursday in the matchday squad to face Italy at the weekend. The test in Turin on Saturday marks the

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 21, 2024, 11:39 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 South Africa take on Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday evening, with the

Nov 21, 2024, 11:20 AM Open Extended Reactions Wales head coach Warren Gatland has said he would like to remain in his role as his side prepare to face two-time world champions South Africa in Cardiff on Sunday. Wales have lost a record 11 successive Test matches and a defeat to South Africa would see

Nov 21, 2024, 08:48 AM Open Extended Reactions England flanker Tom Curry is working to improve his tackling technique in a bid to lower his risk of concussion, the country’s assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge has said. Curry has suffered five concussions over the past two years — two of which have come this season. Editor’s

Nov 20, 2024, 10:20 AM Open Extended Reactions South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has come out in defence of Wales counterpart Warren Gatland ahead of their clash in Cardiff on Saturday. Gatland is under fire having overseen a run of 11 straight defeats. A loss against the Springboks would see them lose all their Tests

Nov 19, 2024, 05:29 PM Open Extended Reactions Week 3 of the Autumn Nations Series left contrasting emotions after another sensational batch of games. The pressure has intensified on Wales and coach Warren Gatland after their 11th straight defeat, going down in a 52-20 thrashing at the hands of Australia. However, they weren’t the only

Nov 19, 2024, 04:01 PM Open Extended Reactions South Africa have selected brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse to start their final autumn international clash with ailing Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, the first time the siblings will play together for the Springboks. Scrum-half Jaden is already a Rugby World Cup winner after helping South Africa

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 19, 2024, 01:30 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 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out of England’s match against Japan. Mike Hewitt/Getty Images England will be

Multiple contributors Nov 18, 2024, 01:00 PM Open Extended Reactions Week 3 of this year’s Autumn Nations Series saw the northern hemisphere hit back at their southern counterparts, with France edging to victory over New Zealand and Ireland staving off an Argentina comeback to hang on for a win. Still, a convincing win for South

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 18, 2024, 02:54 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 Maro Itoje has said playing for his country “is the Mecca” for him, as talk of