Rugby

1:39 PM BST The British & Irish Lions will make a decision on whether Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones will re-join the squad in South Africa in the next 24 hours after coach Warren Gatland described his recovery from a dislocated shoulder as “remarkable.” Jones has been training with Wales in the last few days

10:49 AM BST South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has tested positive for the coronavirus, along with five other players in the squad, ahead of the three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions. The South African team will resume training on Sunday after six rounds of COVID-19 testing and a six-day preventative self-isolation period cleared

9:49 PM BST Hooker Ronan Kelleher grabbed four tries and Ireland capped eight new players as many of their younger fringe men seized the opportunity to impress in a 71-10 thrashing of the United States at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Having weathered a Japanese attacking blitz last week, Andy Farrell’s men were equally lethal

5:30 PM BST Debutant winger Adam Radwan and hooker Jamie Blamire, on his first start, both scored hat-tricks and it was a special day for flyhalf Marcus Smith as a shadow England team racked up 10 tries in a 70-14 demolition of Canada at Twickenham on Saturday. Joe Cokanasiga, who scored two last week, added

5:59 PM BST The British & Irish Lions have called up England’s Marcus Smith for the tour of South Africa as injury cover for Finn Russell, who is nursing an achilles problem, and the young flyhalf admits he is “shaking” at the prospect of realising a rugby dream. The Lions made the announcement as Smith

4:18 PM BST Wales missed a last-minute penalty to draw 20-20 with Argentina, who had been reduced to 14 men for most of the match on Saturday in the first of two tests at the Principality Stadium. Substitute flyhalf Jarrod Evans had a chance to win the game but went wide with his kick after

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