Rugby

3:38 PM BST The British & Irish Lions touring party returned a negative set of COVID-19 tests on Friday allowing coach Warren Gatland to make 13 changes to the team facing the Cell C Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday after several days of disruption. Hooker Jamie George will captain the Lions’ third game on their

4:51 PM BST Christian Scotland-Williamson has rejoined professional rugby and signed for Harlequins after three years on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, the London club announced on Friday. The 28-year-old began his rugby career at Worcester Warriors but left in 2018 to pursue a move to the United States with the National Football League’s International

12:40 PM BST Scotland’s test against Georgia in Tbilisi next Saturday has been cancelled after their hosts reported six positive COVID-19 cases while in South Africa this week, officials confirmed. Georgia had been due to face the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg on Friday, but that match was called off after both camps reported positive

10:51 AM BST Lindsay du Plessis The British & Irish Lions will continue on their tour to South Africa as is, even in the face of coronavirus upheavals across three teams, says Lions tour director Ben Calveley. The Lions, who recorded their first COVID positive case on Wednesday, have seen one tour match reorganised already,

2:54 PM BST The British & Irish Lions will play back-to-back matches against the Cell C Sharks on Saturday, in replacement of the weekend’s original game against Vodacom Bulls which was postponed due to members of the South African team testing positive for COVID-19, the Lions announced on Thursday. Lions Rugby said the change is

11:53 AM BST Four more players will earn their first England caps this Saturday as coach Eddie Jones named his team to face Canada at Twickenham. Dan Kelly will play at inside centre, Adam Radwan at left wing, Harry Wells at lock, and No. 8 Alex Dombrandt, who has been knocking at the door for

9:55 AM BST Former Springboks head coach Heyneke Meyer has joined Major League Rugby team, Houston SaberCats, in the United States. He will be their director of rugby. Meyer will also be responsible for the SaberCats’ developmental squad, under-18 team and academy. “This is a very important time for the SaberCats organization. I am fully

9:17 PM BST The British & Irish Lions put aside a day of drama and uncertainty to comprehensively win the second game of their COVID-disrupted South African tour, crushing the Sharks 54-7 at Ellis Park on Wednesday. Makeshift fullback Josh Adams kept up his try-scoring blitz in a Lions jersey with a hat-trick, matched by

1:48 PM BST The British & Irish Lions were going ahead with the second match of their South Africa tour on Wednesday against the Sharks despite the visitors reporting two COVID-19 cases amid a virulent third wave in the host nation. The Lions said one player and a management member tested positive, but that the

6:22 PM BST The third Tour match between the British & Irish Lions and the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria has been postponed as several members of the South African team tested positive for COVID-19, a statement said on Tuesday. Lions Rugby said organisers will to reschedule the game and find an alternative opponent for the

2:18 PM BST Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny requires surgery on a knee ligament injury sustained in the 68-12 win over Canada on Saturday, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) said on Tuesday, ruling him out of their summer tests. The 32-year-old was visibly upset as he was taken off the field on a stretcher after his

2:00 AM BST St George Illawarra prop Paul Vaughan has been sacked after he hosted an illegal house party attended by 13 players. The Dragons Board will officially ratify the decision when they meet at an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The move comes after the NRL handed down a raft of sanctions to the

2:00 AM BST St George Illawarra prop Paul Vaughan is facing the axe at an emergency board meeting on Tuesday in which the NRL club will address an illegal house party organised and attended by 13 players. Jack de Belin and other players are also facing increased sanction on top of the one-game suspensions and

11:00 PM BST NRL boss Andrew Abdo says he is “gutted” by St George Illawara’s players breaching virus protocols and placing the season at risk. The NRL has come down hard on the 13 players who broke stay-at-home orders to party at Paul Vaughan’s barbeque on Saturday. 1 Related They were handed a combined fine

9:51 AM BST Furious St George Illawarra boss Ryan Webb has slammed the arrogance of the Dragons’ dirty 13, refusing to rule out further sanctions beyond the 20 games in bans and big fines from the NRL. The NRL came down hard on the 13 players who broke stay-at-home orders to party at Paul Vaughan’s

8:19 AM BST South Africa lock RG Snyman has undergone skin graft surgery after he suffered burns last month but he could still return in time for the test series against the British & Irish Lions, officials said on Sunday. Snyman needed grafts on his knee after being burned in an accident in Ireland last

2:45 AM BST ESPN staff Israel Folau will return to rugby in 2022 after signing with Japanese Top League club NTT Communications Shining Arcs. The code-hopper, who was recently cleared to play rugby league for Southport Tigers on the Gold Coast, was unveiled as one of the Arcs’ new signings on Monday. Folau will play

4:22 PM BST England scored seven tries — but conceded a worrying four — as a virtual reserve team beat a spirited United States 43-29 in an entertaining though ragged Twickenham clash on Saturday. England were without 13 players on Lions duty and several others being rested, and starting with eight debutants, they led 26-3