Rugby

2:20 AM GMT Wallabies captain Michael Hooper would love to see Japan play more international Tests, but says rugby’s various governing bodies need to be careful not to burn out players in the process. Japan hasn’t played an international since the 2019 World Cup, when they made it to the quarter-finals before being knocked out

7:12 PM GMT This year’s women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is set to be pushed back until next year due to the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, World Rugby said on Tuesday. “World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in

1:15 AM GMT All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through to the 2023 World Cup in France. Smith, the most capped New Zealand scrumhalf of all-time with 97 test appearances, will also remain with his long-time provincial side the Highlanders as part of his extension. “Last year was a tough

3:39 PM GMT French referee Pascal Gauzere has conceded he made mistakes in his handling of England’s 40-24 defeat to Wales, according to World Rugby’s head of match officials Joel Jutge. Jutge, speaking to Midi Olympique, said the two spoke on the phone on Sunday about the controversial first-half calls from Saturday’s game — Jutge

Feb 23, 2021 Niamh Lewis When Eammon Ashton-Atkinson, an Australian television reporter, decided to film his rugby club as they went to the biannual Bingham Cup in 2018, he could never have imagined the positive reaction a documentary about it would receive. The film Steelers is about London-based Kings Cross Steelers, the world’s first gay

11:12 AM GMT England Rugby condemned the online abuse directed at its players after prop Ellis Genge said he received death threats following Saturday’s Six Nations defeat by Wales. Genge said he was sent abuse on social media after footage surfaced of him not clapping Wales players off the pitch following England’s 40-24 loss at

7:10 AM GMT Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whitaker says it’s the COVID pandemic and not the lack of player development that has thrust his franchise into arguably its deepest hole of the professional era. The Waratahs were on Saturday night hammered 61-10 by the Brumbies in Canberra, the record margin against their southern rivals coming

1:03 AM GMT Super Rugby Aotearoa roared into life over the weekend, with wins for competition favourites the Crusaders as well as the team that might finally be able to push them, the Blues. Super Rugby AU was into its second week and again it was the title fancies, the Reds and Brumbies who triumphed,

6:54 PM GMT Wales remained on course for the most unlikely of Six Nations Grand Slams after they beat an indisciplined England 40-24 in a controversial match in Cardiff on Saturday. – Play ESPN’s Rugby Pick’em for FREE Wales led 17-14 at half-time with tries by Josh Adams and Liam Williams — the first after

5:53 PM GMT Ireland scored six tries in a 48-10 bonus point victory over Italy on Saturday to earn their first win of this year’s Six Nations and condemn the hosts to a 30th consecutive defeat in the tournament. Tries from Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors gave the visitors a seemingly unassailable 24-point

2:43 PM GMT Sports minister Roxana Maracineanu threatened to withdraw the French team’s authorisation to play in the Six Nations if the rugby federation (FFR) does not properly investigate the origin of a COVID-19 outbreak within the squad. France’s game against Scotland was postponed after 11 French players, as well as staff, including head coach

2:40 PM GMT England have suffered another Six Nations injury blow with Courtney Lawes ruled out for the rest of the championship. The forward wasn’t due to feature for Eddie Jones’ side against Wales this weekend and sustained a pectoral injury in England training on Wednesday which has ruled him out for the rest of

1:38 PM GMT Having navigated through the opening two rounds of the 2021 Six Nations unscathed, we’re a match down this weekend after Sunday’s championship match between France and Scotland was postponed. France have been battling a growing number of COVID-19 cases in their squad and there was optimism the match would take place through

12:55 PM GMT The 2023 Rugby World Cup will kick off with a mouth-watering Pool A clash between hosts France and three-time champions New Zealand, organisers said on Friday. England will start their Pool D campaign against Argentina on Sept. 9 in Marseille, where world champions South Africa will take on Scotland the day after

11:01 AM GMT England have made two changes for their trip to Wales on Saturday in the Six Nations with uncapped George Martin named among the replacements. Jamie George and Mark Wilson return to England’s starting XV for the match in Cardiff, while Martin could make his England debut if given the chance from the

12:55 PM GMT Wales coach Wayne Pivac has opted for midfield muscle and selected Jonathan Davies to play at inside centre alongside George North in the Six Nations clash with England at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Davies will make his first appearance of 2021 after being recalled to the side, while North, 28, is

11:34 AM GMT Ireland refreshed their pack for Saturday’s Six Nations trip to Italy and welcomed Johnny Sexton back after the captain missed the loss to leaders France in a disappointing start to the tournament. Ireland boss Andy Farrell has made seven changes from their disappointing start to the tournament. Ronan Kelleher, who scored one

3:45 PM GMT Italy coach Franco Smith has named an unchanged side for the visit of Ireland in Saturday’s Six Nations match. Young half-back pair Stephen Varney, 19, and Paolo Garbisi, 20, are again entrusted by Smith, with Juan Ignacio Brex earning his third cap at centre alongside Carlo Canna, who will reach a half