Rugby

4:08 AM BST Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn has responded to the unnamed criticism of his methods from a Rugby Australia [RA] source, agreeing that it was “gutless” and insisting he had no issues working with Wallabies staff. Tensions between the Reds and RA are simmering after Queensland Rugby Union [QRU] boss David Hanham expressed

8:06 AM BST ESPN staff The resurgent Blues face the biggest test of their Super Rugby Pacific title credentials in Christchurch on Friday, but they have received a huge boost for the match with a couple of key additions to their 23-man squad. One is code-hopper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who will make his return from injury

10:23 AM BST New Zealand Rugby (NZR) boss Mark Robinson has apologised to the country’s elite women players after a cultural review found the governing body had failed to sufficiently support the women’s high performance programme. The review, run by an independent panel, said some players and management had complained of negative experiences within the

8:44 PM BST England continued their winning run in this year’s Six Nations with a 58-5 victory over Wales in front of a record crowd at Kingsholm. Lark Davies and Jess Breach both scored two tries each while Sarah Bern, Alex Matthews, Shaunagh Brown, Emily Scarratt and Sarah Hunter also crossed the line. – Clargo:

3:13 AM BST SANZAAR has dished out 16 weeks’ worth of suspensions for the five red cards that were issued in Round 7 of Super Rugby Pacific, after Caleb Clarke was on Wednesday night handed a three-week ban for an incident that continues to divide opinion. The wider issue of foul play remains the hot

11:57 AM BST Ireland and Leinster flanker Dan Leavy announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 27 on Tuesday because of a long-term knee injury. Leavy was a pivotal member of the Ireland side that claimed the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam. He missed the following year’s tournament through injury before suffering knee

6:59 AM BST Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has set his sights on a Buddy Franklin-like charge of the SCG as Australia looks to end its long run of outs against Eddie Jones’ England, while coach Dave Rennie has flagged multiple positions where players can still stake a claim for a starting spot via Super Rugby

12:58 AM BST ESPN staff Perth has won the right to host the opening Test between the Wallabies and England, while the Wallaroos will commence their Rugby World Cup preparations with Tests against Japan and Fijiana in Queensland. Rugby Australia on Tuesday unveiled the fixtures for its opening Test series of 2022, with international rugby

5:51 AM BST World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin is confident both players and coaches will soon have adapted their behaviours amid the current foul play crackdown, sparing next year’s Rugby World Cup of repeated incidents of head contact and the red cards they produce. Attending government meetings in Australia this week, Gilpin was on hand

12:02 AM BST There have been plenty of talking points, on and off the field, in Australian rugby circles this week, with the game even getting some air time in the Federal Budget on Tuesday night. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed the Australian Government’s financial support for the 2027 World Cup bid, while the SANZAAR judiciary

12:17 AM BST There was no shortage of talking points across another busy weekend of Super Rugby Pacific, but sadly most of them were overshadowed by another busy weekend of high-tackle debate. Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has again raised the idea of an “orange card” after his team continued their unbeaten start to the season,

3:37 PM BST Prop Marlie Packer scored a hat trick of tries as England got their Six Nation’s title defence underway with a 57-5 victory against Scotland at Edinburgh’s DAM Health Stadium on Saturday. The result was the Red Roses’ 19th-straight win, breaking the record for most consecutive Test match wins, which was set by

4:31 PM BST France scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been named 2022 men’s Six Nations player of the championship after guiding his team to their first Grand Slam and Six Nations title since 2010, tournament organisers said on Friday. The 25-year-old was instrumental in the final as France held off England to clinch a 25-13 victory

12:44 AM BST The head of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has repeated his backing of Eddie Jones and his belief that England are making progress, but admitted the upbeat statement of support on Sunday should have shown more understanding of fans’ frustration. Echoing Jones’s positive comments after the defeat by France, their third of

3:08 PM BST Emily Scarratt will make her first appearance for England in more than 10 months as the Red Roses look to make history when they begin their Six Nations title defense against Scotland on Saturday. The 32-year-old missed the side’s autumn campaign after breaking her leg in the opening round of the Premier

4:51 AM BST Reuters with ESPN staff Super Rugby Pacific organisers on Thursday announced new dates for four matches involving New Zealand sides that were postponed due to COVID-19. The match between the Hurricanes and Chiefs has been rescheduled for April 3, while the Highlanders will face Moana Pasifika on April 8. The Hurricanes’ game

2:08 AM BST The shifting assessment of Taniela Tupou’s cleanout of Jahrome Brown tells you everything you need to know about rugby’s ongoing wrestle with foul play – and that the breakdown looms as the next likely flashpoint, potentially at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Tupou was on Wednesday night cleared of any wrongdoing, the

12:54 PM BST Frenchman Loik Le Priol has been arrested in Hungary in connection with the murder in Paris last weekend of former Argentine rugby international Federico Aramburu, a source at the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday. “I can confirm that Loik Le Priol was arrested last night in Hungary,” said the source, following