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Six Nations 2024: Ireland quartet in contention to face England at Twickenham​

Ireland's Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Oli Jager and Iain Henderson are all in contention to face England in the Six Nations on Saturday after training with the squad in Dublin on Tuesday.

Full-back Keenan missed Ireland's win over Wales with a knee injury.

Centre Ringrose has yet to feature this year because of a shoulder problem.

Second row Henderson has been battling a toe injury while prop Jager, who made his debut off the bench against Wales, had a knee issue.

"We were all on the field today, it was great," scrum coach John Fogarty told reporters at Ireland's Dublin training base on Tuesday.

"Garry, Hugo, Hendy, all trained today, Oli as well.

"So, yeah, it's such an important day for us to be on the field. A healthy squad training today is important for selection and it was great that they were all on the field."

Ciaran Frawley deputised for Keenan against Wales while Robbie Henshaw has partnered Bundee Aki in midfield in Ringrose's absence.

When asked about Keenan specifically, Fogarty added: "We've another session tomorrow, which is the most physical session of the week, where we'll properly test our plan and the players.

"So we'll see how he gets through tomorrow and then Andy [Farrell, head coach] will select his side [on Thursday]."

Ireland are top of the Six Nations table following three bonus-point victories against France, Italy and Wales.

 
Luke Murphy scored a try with the clock in the red to deny England the Under-20 Six Nations title and snatch a draw for Ireland.

Ben Waghorn's late try looked to have sealed the title with a game to spare, after Kane James' score drew England level.

Ireland scored their bonus-point try through Henry Walker and looked in control before the frantic ending, which leaves both sides still in the running to take the title heading into the final round.

Richie Murphy's Ireland side, who came into this game a point behind England, are in the strongest position to secure the Six Nations title as they face winless Scotland in their final game.

England face the more difficult task of travelling to France.

In an error-filled first half, fly-half Jack Murphy, son of head coach Murphy, took control for the visitors with a pin-point cross-field kick to Finn Treacy, who finished sharply in the corner to cancel out Finn Carnduff's opening try.

Treacy then turned provider for his full-back Ben O'Connor after a long pass from Murphy cut out the English defence.

The hosts' narrow defence was again exploited by the hands of Murphy for Hugo McLaughlin to score in the corner.

Replacement Oli Spencer finished off a cross-field kick to ensure England stayed in touch before the thrilling final stages.

With the scores level after James' try, England turned down a penalty in search of the bonus-point try, which would clinch the title, and sharp hands released Waghorn to score the potential title-winning try.

However, Ireland remained calm after the restart and worked their way up the field for Murphy to score and Sean Naughton to add the simple conversion which preserved their title chances.

England: Redshaw; Cousins, Waghorn, Kerr, Wills; Bellamy, McParland; Opoku-Fordjour, Oliver, Sela, Sodeke, Kpoku, Carnduff (capt), Pollock, Michelow.

Replacements: Isaacs, Kirk, Halliwell, Carr, James, Douglas, Makepeace-Cubitt, Spencer.

Ireland: O'Connor; Treacy, De Klerk, Gavin, McLaughlin; Murphy, Coffey; Usanov, Sheahan, Boyd, Spicer, O'Connell (capt), Hopes, Ward, Murphy.

Replacements: Walker, Howard, Bell, Corrigan, Edogbo, Brophy, Naughton, Colbert.

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Last-gasp try denies England U20 Six Nations title

Luke Murphy scores a try with the clock in the red to deny England the Under-20 Six Nations title and snatch a draw for Ireland.
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Italy 31-29 Scotland: Azzurri make landmark statement with Six Nations victory over Scotland​

Italy secured their first home Six Nations victory in 11 years with a hard-fought 31-29 comeback victory over Scotland at the Stadio Olimpico.

An attack-filled first 40 saw Scotland try to take control of the match, tries from Zander Fagerson, Kyle Steyn, and Pierre Schoeman, plus three efforts from Finn Russell's boot giving them the advantage.

However, Italy hit back with an off-the-cuff try from Ignacio Brex, plus three conversions from Paolo Garbisi and another from Martin Page-Relo as they went in at half-time trailing 22-16.

The second half saw an Italy fightback ensue, a Louis Lynagh try on debut plus a converted Stephen Varney effort giving the home outfit a 28-22 lead with 20 minutes to hold out.

With victory within touching distance, the Stadio Olimpico crowd ramped up and a Garbisi penalty gave Italy a two-score lead but Scotland came once again through Sam Skinner, Russell adding the extras to bring the score to 31-29 with just two minutes to play.

Scotland put together over 20 phases but Italy defended valiantly, the turnover coming to secure one of their biggest Six Nations wins.

It is a huge victory for Italy, their last home win coming over 10 years ago as they claimed a 22-15 victory over Ireland in the 2013 tournament.

Source: SKY
 
Six Nations 2024: Talking points after wins for England, Italy and France

Italy shocked Scotland in Rome, England ended Ireland's bid for back-to-back Grand Slams and France showed their class to defeat Wales in Cardiff.

The penultimate weekend of the 2024 Six Nations was thrilling and dramatic in equal measure and ensures the title race goes to the final round of games on Saturday.

What are the key talking points from another epic round?

England's World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa was hailed as the best under Borthwick, but this time they got over the line.

"It was a breakout performance from that England team," former England fly-half Paul Grayson said on the BBC's Rugby Union Daily.

"They set off like a house on fire and stayed at it for the whole time whether they were ahead or behind.

"The pitch-side noise was deafening. Twickenham was absolutely superb."

As great as the victory was over the defending Grand Slam champions, England need to back up the performance against France in Lyon next Saturday.

England still have hopes of winning the title and will feel they have some misery to inflict after suffering an embarrassing record home defeat by France only 12 months ago.

England may have ended Ireland's bid to become the first Six Nations side to win back-to-back Grand Slams, but the championship remains in touching distance for Andy Farrell's ambitious side.

After picking up bonus points in every round so far, Ireland are four points ahead of England going into their final game against Scotland in Dublin.

"We talked about going back-to-back Grand Slams which would have been unbelievable," former Ireland wing Tommy Bowe said on the BBC's Rugby Union Daily.

"But the reason maybe Ireland had that chance is because there are a lot of teams in transition and we are not seeing them at the levels we have in the past.

"Ireland will go back to Dublin and regather themselves as it doesn't come much bigger than Scotland.

"They have such a proud record at home and will want to make amends."

A losing bonus-point should be enough to seal the title for Farrell's men, but after Borthwick claimed Ireland were "the best team in the world" - despite South Africa winning the World Cup - they will want to try to justify that tag with a memorable performance.

In round two, Gregor Townsend's side were denied victory against France by an inconclusive last-gasp try. That refereeing decision can no longer be blamed for a failed title bid.

An emphatic victory over England at Murrayfield sparked their championship hopes alive again. However, Italy outplayed Scotland for large portions of their game in Rome to record their first win in 14 matches against them.

"I don't think there is pressure on Gregor Townsend. We can't change the narrative that quickly," former Scotland captain John Barclay said on the BBC's Rugby Union Daily.

"They could have had three wins on the board, but for a refereeing decision.

"From offering so much optimism from what they could do, now they are going to Dublin to almost save that campaign."

Mathematically, Scotland can still win the title but ifs, buts and maybes continue to haunt Scotland in the Six Nations.

Last season, Gatland said the Wooden Spoon was "the last thing you want" before a potential first whitewash in the Six Nations since 2003.

On the penultimate weekend Wales defeated Italy in Rome to avenge their surprise defeat in Cardiff in 2022.

This year, Gatland's side head into Saturday's game against Italy without a win and trailing a rejuvenated Italy side by four points.

"Italy have won there before with an amazing last-minute win, so they have got experience there," former England wing Chris Ashton said on Six Nations Rugby Special.

"They know how to win there and off the back of a win like that have to be confident."

Italy last finished fifth in 2015 - when Scotland finished bottom - and have picked up the Wooden Spoon eight times in a row.

Without their talisman they had lost their spark and energy in attack and only recorded one slightly fortuitous win.

Under-pressure head coach Fabien Galthie dropped scrum-half Maxime Lucu in favour of 21-year-old Nolann Le Garrec, who produced a player-of-the-match performance in Cardiff with a fearless display.

Le Garrec took inspiration from Dupont, who is currently with the France sevens team chasing an Olympic gold, by firing out an audacious 40-yard reverse pass to set up a break down the wing.

"It was the most unnecessary but brilliant piece of skill I have seen in the Six Nations," former England wing Ugo Monye said on Six Nations Rugby Special.

The diminutive scrum-half scored his side's second try in Cardiff and was a constant threat throughout the game. In a very Dupont-like performance, he also nailed the basics.

"Because he is inexperienced and young he just wants to get out there and play his game, which is sometimes what you need with younger players," Ashton added.

"He did it in his own way this weekend. He was outstanding. He was involved in everything good."

Source: BBC
 

Six Nations: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso out of England's trip to France due to concussion​

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out of England's Guinness Six Nations clash with France on Saturday after self-reporting symptoms of concussion.

Feyi-Waboso took a head knock in the 23-22 victory over Ireland that has revived England's title hopes and while he finished the match - making a crucial carry for big metres in the lead-up to Marcus Smith's match-winning drop-goal - he later began to feel the effects of a possible concussion.

The 21-year-old wing was a likely starter in the climax to the tournament in Lyon after making a big impact on his full debut against Andy Farrell's men.

"Manny felt a bit groggy, so he is unfortunately ruled out of the game, but we don't take any risks with that sort of stuff," attack coach Richard Wigglesworth said.

England have ruled out replacing Feyi-Waboso in their 36-man training squad, with Elliot Daly likely to replace him on the wing against France.

Cardiff-born Feyi-Waboso, who was persuaded to pledge allegiance to the Red Rose by Steve Borthwick in January, made his debut in the opener against Italy and then crossed against Scotland before impressing against Ireland on Saturday.

"There was no major incident. He had a knock and didn't feel quite right, so he reported the symptoms and then was removed accordingly," Wigglesworth said.

"He's obviously gutted but being the smart lad he is, he reported his symptoms. He did the right thing.

"It had been building for Manny. You have to integrate these players carefully and I think Steve did that well in how he exposed him to Test rugby so he was ready to fly.

"He played really well, got his hands on the ball and did what we asked him to do and brought his talents.

"It's very disappointing for him as I know how desperate he was to play again and how much he enjoyed his first start."

Source: SKY
 
Wales centre George North has announced he will retire from international rugby after the Six Nations on Saturday.

The home game against Italy will be his 121st and final Wales appearance.

North, 31, is Wales' third most capped player in history behind only Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.


BBC
 
Italy have made three changes to their side to face Wales in their final Six Nations Championship clash in Cardiff on Saturday as Lorenzo Pani comes in to replace the injured Ange Capuozzo at fullback.

The lively Capuozzo fractured a finger in the 31-29 victory over Scotland, opens new tab last weekend and has been ruled out, having been a key figure for the side when they defeated Wales 22-21 in their last visit to the Principality Stadium in 2022.

Other changes see Stephen Varney start at scrumhalf ahead of Martin Page-Relo, who drops to the bench, and Lorenzo Cannone comes in at number eight in place of Ross Vintcent, who is also among the replacements.

Paolo Garbisi keeps his place at flyhalf, while Louis Lynagh, who scored a try on his debut in the win over the Scots, and Monty Ioane are on the wings. The centre pairing is made up of Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex.

Cannone is joined in the back three by captain Michele Lamaro and Sebastian Negri, while brother Niccolo Cannone and Federico Ruzza make up the second row.

Hooker Giacomo Nicotera will have props Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari either side of him.

Italy can complete a best ever Six Nations campaign with victory against the Welsh, who have lost all four of their matches so far this season.

Following a 13-13 draw against France in which Garbisi missed a kick for victory with the final play of the game, adding another win to their Scotland success would be an improvement on all previous years.

Italy could finish as high as third in the table with a bonus point victory but would need Scotland and France to lose their final matches to Ireland and England respectively.

Italy team:

15-Lorenzo Pani, 14-Louis Lynagh, 13-Ignacio Brex, 12-Tommaso Menoncello, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Stephen Varney, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Michele Lamaro (captain), 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti

Replacements:

16-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17-Mirco Spagnolo, 18-Giosue Zilocchi, 19-Andrea Zambonin, 20-Ross Vintcent, 21-Manuel Zuliani, 22-Martin Page-Relo, 23-Leonardo Marin

 
England came from behind to beat France with a bonus point and clinch the Under-20 Six Nations title despite Ireland's earlier win over Scotland.

England were denied the title by a last-gasp try in their draw with Ireland last time out and found themselves 21-12 down at half-time.

Ireland's victory over Scotland meant England would have to win with the bonus point to lift the trophy in Pau.

England scored 33 second-half points to take their first title since 2021.
 
Italy beat Wales in Cardiff to achieve their most successful Six Nations and consign their hosts to a first Wooden Spoon in 21 years

A try from wing Monty Ioane and two Paulo Garbisi penalties gave Italy an 11-0 half-time lead.

Full-back Lorenzo Pani added a brilliant score with Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo kicking penalties.

Wales responded with tries from Elliot Dee, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady to give the score some respectability.

The three-point margin of defeat flattered Wales with Italy's win ensuring a repeat of the 2022 victory in Cardiff.

It was a sad end to center George North's Wales career as he was helped from the field in the closing stages in his final Test after announcing his international retirement.

Inspirational Italy

This was the first time since 2015 and the past eight tournaments Italy had not finished bottom of the Six Nations table.

It has been a dramatic turnaround after they conceded 156 points in the final two 2023 World Cup pool defeats against New Zealand and France when Kieran Crowley was in charge.

Head coach Gonzalo Quesada has come in and following defeats by England and Ireland, guided his side to an away draw against France and victories against Scotland and Wales.

Italy have previously finished fourth, but the two victories and a draw is their most successful tournament of results since they joined the Six Nations in 2000.

The Azzurri had never avoided defeat in three consecutive Championship matches and had only won two matches in a Six Nations, in 2007 and 2013.

Wales woe​

In contrast, this Wales side are rivalling the results of the awful days of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

This was a 12th defeat in the last 13 games in the tournament, including seven successive Six Nations home defeats.

The only time Wales have previously lost all five of their Six Nations fixtures was in 2003 under Steve Hansen. Two years later Wales won the Grand Slam.

You would currently get good odds for that happening again given the current state of Welsh rugby which has been allowed to decline by the powerbrokers in recent years.

New Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Abi Tierney has promised an overall strategy by June. It is long overdue.

This situation has been coming. Wales won the Six Nations title in 2021, but in 2020, 2022 and 2023 they finished fifth with only one victory in each tournament.

Now they have the suffered the humiliation of five defeats in one competition with the latest defeat seeing them slip to 10th in the world rankings and Italy rise to eighth.

Is Gatland still the man?​


The question will now be whether Warren Gatland is the man to lead the rebuild and revival, a coach who won three Grand Slams and reached two World Cup semi-finals during his first 12-year stint in charge.

The WRU think so with the executive director of rugby Nigel Walker previously calling Gatland the best coach in the world.

Since he returned to replaced Wayne Pivac in December 2022, Gatland has only won one game in 10 Six Nations matches, with a solitary away victory against Italy in Rome last year.

His overall record of his second spell in charge is six wins in 18 games, with four of those victories coming in the World Cup in France last year where Wales reached the quarter-finals before losing to Argentina.

Gatland has lost a lot of experience in the last year with the retirements of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Josh Navidi, Leigh Halfpenny and now North.

Liam Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Tomas Francis, Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Christ Tshiunza and Dewi Lake have been unavailable for this campaign because of injury or club commitments.

That has left Gatland handing Cardiff's Cameron Winnett, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin and Evan Lloyd a chance when they have played only a handful of professional games.

Gatland will also reflect on some of his own decisions, with his selections and replacement decisions during matches.

Grady and Rowlands reminded him of their talents against Italy in a campaign in which they were noticeably under-utilised.

It will not get easier as Wales prepare to play world champions South Africa and Australia this summer.

North bids farewell​


The afternoon had started full of emotion as North led the side out on his 121st cap for the final time.

It was 13-and-a-half-years after he made his debut as an 18-year-old against South Africa when he scored two tries in November 2010.

Four Six Nations titles, four World Cups and two Grand Slams later, only Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins have more caps, only Shane Williams has scored more tries.

North, who was visibly emotional during the anthem, returned with Nick Tompkins after the centre pair were omitted from the starting side against France, with Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin dropped on this occasion.

Despite the endeavour, the Italy centres of player-of-the-match Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello outplayed their opponents.

Quesada made three changes with full-back Ange Capuozzo injured and replaced by Pani, while Wales-born scrum-half Stephen Varney and number eight Lorenzo Cannone also started.

Italy in control​


Garbisi opened the scoring with two penalties as Wales looked laboured in the early exchanges.

Italy proved slick and a fluent move saw wing Ioane cross for the opening try. The home side were guilty of a series of unforced errors in the first half, typified by a mix-up between fly-half Sam Costelow and full-back Winnett which resulted in a needless knock-on.

The frustration spilled over when kicking coach Neil Jenkins had words with French referee Mathieu Raynal after a potential Italy high tackle. It ended with Raynal warning Jenkins about his conduct.

In four of the five games in the tournament, Wales failed to register a single point in a half and the opening 40 minutes against Italy was as poor as Gatland's side have been.

Wales started the second half encouragingly following breaks from Rio Dyer and Tomos Williams, but a neck roll penalty was given away by Adam Beard.

Italy demonstrated a significantly more clinical edge with a superbly well-worked try from a first phase line-out with the space created for Pani. Garbisi converted.

Too little, too late, for Wales​


Wales turned to the bench by bringing on Rowlands and Grady, who provided Wales with some much-needed ball-carrying momentum.

Scrum-half Williams almost scored, but was denied by a brilliant covering tackle by Exeter number eight Ross Vintcent.

Williams was carried off before Dee was driven over to give Wales some hope, but Italy regrouped through two late penalties.

North was helped off to a standing ovation as Wales rallied with two last-gasp tries through Rowlands and Grady, who was the bright spark for Gatland's side.

Italy will wonder how they only won by three points, but will celebrate their progress. For Wales, it's back to the drawing board.

Line-ups​


Wales: Winnett; Adams, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Costelow, Tomos Williams; G Thomas, Dee, Lewis, Jenkins (capt), Beard, Mann, Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Mathias, O'Connor, Rowlands, Martin, Hardy, I Lloyd, Grady.

Italy: Pani; Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt), L Cannone

Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Favretto, Vintcent, Zuliani, Page-Relo, Marin.

Match officials​


Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Touch judges: Chris Busby (Ireland) & Morne Ferreira (South Africa)

TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

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Six Nations 2024: Wales 21-24 Italy - visitors consign Wales to first Wooden Spoon in 21 years

Italy beat Wales in Cardiff to achieve their most successful Six Nations and consign their hosts to their first Wooden Spoon in 21 years.
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World Rugby is planning to run trials on red cards and examine tackle height in the elite game as part of moves to improve the sport's safety and appeal.

It is also looking at ways to speed up the game as part of a new five-stage plan unveiled on Tuesday.

The governing body says it is focused on "enhancing ball in flow, reducing stoppages and increasing welfare".

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said the measures would "excite the next generation of fans and players".

"Change is in rugby's DNA," he added.


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Owen Farrell: Saracens fly-half still 'happy' with decision to step away from England duty​


Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell remains "happy" with his decision to step away from England and is focused on enjoying his rugby again.

The former England captain made himself unavailable for this year's Six Nations "in order to prioritize his and his family's mental wellbeing".

Next season Farrell will join Racing 92 which rules out a possible return.

"The World Cup was difficult at times, but I really enjoyed the playing side of it," he said.

The 32-year-old Farrell added: "I have just tried to get back to enjoying his rugby and loving what I am doing and I am working to do that."

"I guess you sit and watch any massive game and wish you were involved, but I'm happy with the decision at the moment, not to say that won't be up and down."

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) does not allow players based abroad to be selected for England, with Farrell moving to the French Top 14 side on a two-year deal.

Capped 112 times by his country, Farrell's move to France all but prevents him playing for England again unless the eligibility rules are relaxed, something which head coach Steve Borthwick wants to happen.

Following criticism of his captain during England's third-place finish at last autumn's World Cup, Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said certain members of the media "need to look at themselves" for their "unfair scrutiny".

"It's lots of things it's never one thing why you come to a decision, it's never just a specific one," said Farrell.

"I thought it would be the best thing for me and obviously there's a change happening off the back of it as well."

The fly-half, who captained his country to the World Cup final in 2019, admitted he deleted social media for the recent tournament in France, but does not put his recent decisions down to just that.

"I don't really look too much into it and it's hard to get away from it," he added. "You feel it at times, but it would be wrong for me to entertain it too much.

"I don't expect people to know what I'm like or how I am as a person, so when it does get personal it would be silly to listen to that on my part."

The three-time British and Irish Lion remains available for the next tour to Australia in 2025 when his father Andy will be head coach of the Lions.

Decisions will be made "closer to the time" whether Farrell will link up with his father, but in the meantime he remains focused on maximizing his club career.

"I want to play for as long as I am enjoying it," the fly-half added.

"I love playing and that has always been the case, even during the tougher bits I loved the game and the rugby.

"I want to enjoy all of it a bit more and I have been getting back to doing that here at the club and over the time during the Six Nations and I want to really do that towards the end of the year."

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Farrell still 'happy' with England decision

Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell remains "happy" with his decision to step away from England and is focusing on enjoying his rugby again.
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Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell remains "happy" with his decision to step away from England and is focused on enjoying his rugby again.

The former England captain made himself unavailable for this year's Six Nations "in order to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing".

Next season Farrell will join Racing 92 which rules out a possible return.

"The World Cup was difficult at times, but I really enjoyed the playing side of it," he said.

The 32-year-old Farrell added: "I have just tried to get back to enjoying my rugby and loving what I am doing and I am working to do that.

"I guess you sit and watch any massive game and wish you were involved, but I'm happy with the decision at the moment, not to say that won't be up and down."

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) does not allow players based abroad to be selected for England, with Farrell moving to the French Top 14 side on a two-year deal.

Capped 112 times by his country, Farrell's move to France all but prevents him playing for England again unless the eligibility rules are relaxed, something which head coach Steve Borthwick wants to happen.

Saracens director of rugby McCall criticises media as he defends fly-half Farrell

Following criticism of his captain during England's third-place finish at last autumn's World Cup, Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said certain members of the media "need to look at themselves" for their "unfair scrutiny".

"It's lots of things it's never one thing why you come to a decision, it's never just a specific one," said Farrell.

"I thought it would be the best thing for me and obviously there's a change happening off the back of it as well."

The fly-half, who captained his country to the World Cup final in 2019, admitted he deleted social media for the recent tournament in France, but does not put his recent decisions down to just that.

"I don't really look too much into it and it's hard to get away from it," he added. "You feel it at times, but it would be wrong for me to entertain it too much.

"I don't expect people to know what I'm like or how I am as a person, so when it does get personal it would be silly to listen to that on my part."

'I want to play for as long as I can'

Source: BBC
 
George North has confirmed he ruptured an Achilles tendon in his final Test appearance for Wales.

British and Irish Lions back North was carried off the field in the 79th minute of Wales' 24-21 home defeat against Italy last weekend.

With recovery times measured in months it is unlikely the 31-year-old will play again for Ospreys before joining French club Provence in the summer.

"Not everyone gets the fairytale ending," North said on social media.

"A ruptured Achilles wasn't the way I wanted to bow out of international rugby. Still I have loved every second.

"On the recovery train now."

North announces retirement from Welsh rugby
Emotional North reflects on glittering career
North is Wales' third most capped player in history behind only Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

He made his international debut in 2010 and won two Grand Slams and four Six Nations titles, and played at four World Cups, making two semi-finals. He also made three Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions.

The 121-cap Wales back began his club career as a wing with Scarlets before spending five years in England with Northampton Saints.

North returned to Wales to join Ospreys in 2018 and announced he will join French second division club Provence when his current contract with the Welsh region runs out at the end of this season.

Source: BBC
 
Finn Russell kicked 17 points as Bath beat Sale to move up to second in the Premiership.

The sides were tied after 60 minutes following tries from Matt Gallagher and two from Joe Cokanasiga for Bath, while Manu Tuilagi, Tom Roebuck and Sam Dugdale scored for Sale.

But a penalty and drop-goal from Russell broke the deadlock for Bath.

Tom Dunn's score sealed the bonus point before Ollie Lawrence added a fifth try as Bath moved above Saracens.

Sale remain eighth in the table and without a win in 2024, having now lost their last four Premiership games.

English Premiership table
Bath came out flying and opened Sale up twice within the first few minutes, and although a wayward pass to Lawrence denied him a try, the second opportunity saw full-back Gallagher teed up perfectly to have a clear run.

Sale grew into the game, winning the first penalty as Ford kicked them onto the board before they took the lead - albeit for a short-lived three minutes - as Tuilagi spun out of a tackle and ran over in the corner.

Russell and Dunn then punched holes through the Sharks defence and Redpath's one-handed over the top pass saw Cokanasiga swan-dive over the try-line.

Sale's kick-chase, though, was repeatedly effective and after launching themselves up the pitch, winger Arron Reed collected a grubber from Gus Warr only to be held up following an excellent sprint back from Ben Spencer as Bath kept their slender lead at the break.

They made a disastrous start to the second half as Roebuck intercepted a Spencer pass as he took the ball from a scrum and had an easy run past Russell to the corner.

There remained little between the sides as the lead swung like a pendulum, with Ted Hill - on his return from injury after being out since October - off-loading to Cokanasiga, who scored his second to edge Bath back in front.

But when Lawrence was sent to the bin for a head-on-head collision, Sale capitalised and touched down through Dugdale from the resulting penalty to make it 24-24.

Bath refused to let the numerical disadvantage have a further impact on them. Will Muir was denied a spectacular touchdown in the corner by Sale full-back Joe Carpenter, before Russell kicked a penalty and the first drop goal of his career to open a six-point advantage.

Suddenly everything started falling Bath's way as they were restored to XV and the coaches rang the replacements and Dunn powered over from a maul to earn the crucial bonus point and all-but secure the win.

Lawrence then had the sold-out Rec crowd on their feet with five minutes left on the clock as he capped off a steady bout of Bath pressure with their fifth try.

Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan told BBC Radio Bristol:

"An all-round performance, I thought all parts of our game fired. It was a tough battle, I thought the turning point was the yellow card we managed that really well and got in front and I thought our impacts made a real difference.

"This week was all about process and we believe we followed our process and we're happy with the five points that we got and we gave them nothing.

"We've done one or two things tactically really well but all credit to the players, this was going to be a big challenge and we came through tonight.

"We haven't played together for nine weeks, everybody pitted in and a good team performance."

Source: BBC
 
England and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care has announced his retirement from international rugby.

The 37-year-old played in all five of England's Six Nations matches this year and earned his 100th cap in the 23-22 win over Ireland on 9 March.


BBC
 

Saracens v Harlequins: Refereeing chiefs apologise for 'unfortunate occurrence'​

Refereeing chiefs have apologised for an "unfortunate occurrence" after the television match official dismissed an incident of foul play during Saracens' win over Harlequins on Saturday.

Match officials were accused of a "dereliction of duty" after apparent foul play by Harlequins captain Stephan Lewies on Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell was ignored.

The Professional Game Match Officials Team (PGMOT) expressed its "regret that questions have been raised about player safety and decision-making".

Ex-England player Austin Healey, working for TNT Sports, spotted a clear-out by the already yellow-carded Lewies - but the TMO was heard telling the referee he did not want to explore the matter.

TMO Stuart Terheege told referee Christophe Ridley during the live broadcast: "The problem I have got now is that it looks like Austin has instigated it, because we're late, so I don't want to talk about it, OK?"

In a statement on Tuesday, the PGMOT said Terheege had decided the foul, in which the already yellow-carded Lewies slid on his knees into Farrell, "was no more than a penalty advantage".

With that advantage deemed to have been taken when Saracens went on to score, he declined to review the incident.

But it added the conversation that was broadcast between the TMO and TNT director "was regrettable" and the conversation was "not intended to be heard outside of the broadcast truck, nor were they the reason for the incident of foul play not being formally reviewed".

"Terheege is disappointed that he allowed himself to be distracted with interactions with the broadcast team and did not communicate his decision to the on-field match officials," added the PGMOT.

"The incident was an unusual and unfortunate occurrence. The PGMOT, Premiership Rugby and TNT Sports are working closely together to make sure this does not happen again."

Source: BBC
 
Former health trust chief Hugh McCaughey will take over from Jonny Petrie as temporary Ulster Rugby CEO.

McCaughey coached Ulster and Ireland players at youth level and was manager of Ulster Rugby and the Irish Sevens team at the 2009 World Cup.

BBC
 

Danny Care: Former England scrum-half to play for the Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham in June​


Former England scrum-half Danny Care will make his Barbarians debut against Fiji at Twickenham in June.

The 37-year-old announced his international retirement this week after winning 101 caps for England.

But he will return to the home of English rugby when the Barbarians play Fiji as part of a double-header with South Africa against Wales.

"I'm absolutely over the moon to be chosen to represent the Barbarians this summer," Care said.

Care was set to play for the Barbarians in the summer of 2022, but he won a surprise recall to the England squad, ending a four-year international exile.

He then became just the sixth Englishman to win 100 caps when he reached the milestone during the 2024 Six Nations.

"It's nearly happened a few times over the last few years, but now the stars have aligned and I cannot wait to finally wear that famous black and white shirt," he said.

"To do it at Twickenham as well is going to be so, so special for me."

Care will line up for the Baa-Baas alongside former England team-mates Ben Youngs, Jonathan Joseph and Zach Mercer.

"The chance to meet, bond, train with and then play alongside a group of players who I have admired and played against before in my career is going to be a unique experience," Care, who had a 16-year England career, added.

"I'll also get the opportunity to run out alongside some old friends as well, which will be really cool.

"I've always watched the Baa-Baas with such affection because of their style and how the team approaches the game.

"I feel like the Barbarians and myself could be a match made in heaven, so I really can't wait to throw my own bit of flair into an already incredible team."

Care will continue to play on next season, taking his professional career past the 20-year mark.

www.bbc.com

Danny Care: Former England scrum-half to play for the Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham in June

Former England scrum-half Danny Care will make his Barbarians debut against Fiji at Twickenham in June.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Lewis Ludlam and Kyle Sinckler will be reunited with former England team-mate Dave Ribbans at Toulon
England forwards Lewis Ludlam and Kyle Sinckler will join Toulon for next season, say the French Top 14 club.

Bristol prop Sinckler, 31, and Northampton back-rower Ludlam, 28, are both to move across the English Channel on three-year deals.

The switch to the three-time Champions Cup winners would effectively end the England aspirations of both players.

Under existing rules, England head coach Steve Borthwick is unable to select players based with clubs abroad.

Toulon, who won the last of their four French titles in 2014, currently sit fifth in the Top 14 with seven rounds of the regular season remaining.

"They are two good signings who will complete our forward pack for many years," Toulon club president Bernard Lemaitre told the AFP news agency.

Ludlam will link up with former Northampton team-mate Dave Ribbans, who made the same move last summer.

"They respond to the profiles we're looking for in our recruitment," added Lemaitre.

"We're trying to have higher expectations on mentality, behaviour and lifestyle of players like their impressive compatriot Dave Ribbans."

Sinckler, 31, won the most recent of his 68 England caps at the Rugby World Cup in France last autumn.

Ludlam, 28, also played in the tournament, winning his 25th cap in the third-place play off against Argentina.

But both missed out on selection for Borthwick's squad for this year's Six Nations.

Former England great Jonny Wilkinson won the second of back-to-back European crowns with Toulon a decade ago.

Source: BBC
 
St Helens narrowly edged a contentious low-scoring local derby as two late tries from Tommy Makinson and Konrad Hurrell stunned 12-man Wigan Warriors.

Mark Percival's penalty gave Saints a 2-0 half-time lead.

Wigan looked like winning it on 55 minutes when Bevan French scored a superb individual kick-and-chase try.

But Liam Byrne was red carded on 64 minutes for a high challenge on Percival - and Saints cashed in on their man advantage to cross twice.


BBC
 
Tom Roebuck scored a hat-trick as Sale beat Exeter 41-5 to move back into the Premiership play-off mix.

Roebuck's early try helped Sale - who had not won a game since 22 December - to an impressive bonus-point win over an undisciplined Chiefs.

He scored a second a minute after half time, dropped the ball as he went to dot down a third before getting his hat-trick after an hour.

Sale ran-in six tries as they closed the gap to the top four.

The Sharks remain in eighth place in the Premiership, but are now only five points off the play-off places while Exeter remain fifth, two points off a top four spot with four rounds of matches to play.

Sale saw influential flanker Ernst van Rhyn limp off in the ninth minute with a leg injury, but his replacement Sam Dugdale played a major part in his side's opener a minute later.

The forward burst through from a line-out to set up field position which Roebuck skipped in from moments later before a George Ford penalty further extended the lead.

Exeter gave away seven penalties in the first 30 minutes and were punished for their indiscipline when former Exeter stalwart Luke Cowan-Dickie was mauled over from a 10-metre line-out.

Source: BBC Sports
 
New Zealand's most-capped player Sam Whitelock will retire at the end of the French club season in June.

The lock, who played 153 times for the All Blacks, retired from international rugby after defeat by South Africa in last autumn's World Cup final.

The 35-year-old won back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015 and moved to Top 14 side Pau last year.


BBC
 
Double Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi accepts that he may lose the Springboks captaincy in 2024.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus recently said that he believed that Kolisi was playing “some of his best rugby” but admitted that there could be a change of captaincy in 2024.

In 2018, it was Erasmus who handed the captaincy to Kolisi as he became the first black player to skipper the Springboks, and when fit, he has retained the armband, leading the side to two World Cup titles.

Siya Kolisi accepts that he may lose Springboks captaincy
However, after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Kolisi joined French Top 14 club Racing 92, which automatically put his future as captain of the side in doubt.

Source: Planet Rugby
 
England flanker Sam Underhill has signed a new contract to stay with Bath until the end of the 2025-2026 season.

The 27-year-old made his Bath debut in 2017, having previously played for Gloucester and Ospreys.

He has since made 85 appearances for the club, including eight so far this campaign, and he played in all five of England's Six Nations matches this year to take his total caps to 35.

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said Underhill is "world-class".

"He is one of the best players in Europe and is an exceptional openside flanker. I am very glad he is staying at Bath," Van Graan said.

Underhill joins a long list of Bath players who have extended their stays with the club, with back-rower Ethan Staddon, fly-half Orlando Bailey, full-back Tom de Glanville, number eight Jaco Coetzee and forward Josh Bayliss to agree new terms in the last two weeks.


BBC
 

Michael Hooper makes Australia sevens debut in win against Fiji​

Former Australia captain Michael Hooper said it was "pretty daunting" to make his international sevens debut in his country's 12-0 win against Fiji.

The 32-year-old came on as a substitute for Nathan Lawson with less than three of the 14 minutes left to play in the Hong Kong Sevens game on Friday.

Hooper is targeting a place in Australia's sevens squad for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

"I came on and did what I had to do," said Hooper.

"I just had to come on in and finish it off for us.

"I've got a wealth of games under my belt, so I'm trying to lean into that.

"The fact is, I'm completely new at this so finding out where I can impact the game, coming up against Fiji round one is pretty daunting. So I'll just take it step by step from here."

Hooper has played 125 times for Australia XVs but was left out of the 2023 World Cup squad before attempting to secure a sevens spot for Paris.

"He did well," said Australia head coach John Manenti.

"He came on and did what he does pretty well, pilfer, so that was pretty significant.

"He's been working really hard to get here. We said from the start, nothing was going to be given, he had to earn everything.

"You could see the boys that were on before him playing pretty good footy so he's going to have to keep fighting and keep proving himself."

Source: BBC
 

Jack Dixon: Dragons centre retires from rugby at age 29​

Dragons centre Jack Dixon has retired from rugby at the age of 29.

Dixon has not played since he suffered a head injury against Leinster in November.

But his surprise decision to quit the sport after 13 years is not injury-related.

"Rugby and the Dragons has been a huge part of my life since I was 16 years old, but I feel it's the right time to step away, move on and start the next chapter of my life," he said.

Newbridge-born Dixon became the youngest player to play Welsh regional rugby when he came off the bench in an LV= Cup tie at Wasps in October 2011, aged just 16 years 313 days.

He broke the record set by team-mate Hallam Amos just 33 minutes earlier, when he had started the same game.

The following summer, Dixon became the youngest player to appear in the Junior World Championships when he was selected by Wales Under-20s at just 17 years old.

Later in the tournament he started in the 9-6 victory over New Zealand - the first defeat the Baby Blacks had suffered in four years at the competition.

He turned out for Ebbw Vale, Bedwas, Cross Keys and Pontypool but remained at Dragons throughout his career, making 172 appearances.

He was named in Wales' extended squad prior to the 2015 Rugby World Cup but never won a senior cap.

"My career has nowhere near reached the heights I dreamt of, but I look back at my time with great pride as I can say, hand on heart, I gave 100% every time I stepped over the white line," he said.

"Playing at Rodney Parade was always incredibly special to me."

Dixon suffered a serious ankle injury in March 2023, also against Leinster. He returned to start this season, having signed a new two-year contract, but has started just once - against Munster in November.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said: "You cannot overstate Jack's contribution to this club, and I have huge admiration for what he has achieved.

"To play for one club as successfully as Jack has for such a length of time is an outstanding achievement.

"He has been a superb role model for our young aspiring players, someone who leads by example and sets the highest of standards. He finishes with an impressive legacy."

Source: BBC
 

England: No plans to change eligibility rules - Bill Sweeney​

There are no plans to change England's eligibility rules, says Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney.

Rules state that players selected for England must compete in the Premiership.

Sweeney said departing players have had conversations with head coach Steve Borthwick and "partly a lifestyle choice" was their reason for leaving.

"If you look at the number of players going abroad, it doesn't really impact our core group," Sweeney said.

"Where we currently stand on the policy of only selecting players based in England stays as it is."

Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell will move to Racing 92 at the end of season. He will be joined in the Top 14 by England internationals Kyle Sinckler, who has joined Toulon for next season, with Northampton's Lewis Ludlam expected to follow.

This comes after World Cup squad members Jack Willis and Henry Arundell, who both moved to France after the demise of Wasps and London Irish, opted to extend their contracts with Toulouse and Racing and rule out a return to the Premiership ahead of this season.

"If you actually look at the players we've got abroad, they probably made a decision in terms of 'where's my England career currently?'" he added.

"'Am I in contention for a place in those hybrid contracts? Am I in that core group of England players going forward?'"

England centre Manu Tuilagi will also leave Sale Sharks at the end of the season to join Bayonne.

Former Harlequins centre Joe Marchant moved to Stade Francais after starting in the centre for England with Tuilagi during the World Cup, but is rumoured to be considering a return to the Premiership.

"There are maybe one or two that you think we would rather have over here," Sweeney added.

"Joe Marchant is rumoured to be coming back to the Premiership this year, so from our perspective, we are okay with it.

"We think there is a performance advantage to having those players based in your own country."

Source: BBC
 

Scotland 0-46 England: Visitors continue perfect start to Women's Six Nations​

England continued their perfect start to the Women's Six Nations as they swept to a comprehensive win over Scotland at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.

First-half tries from Amy Cokayne, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne put the visitors in control in front of a record crowd for Scottish women's rugby, and the scoring continued after the break despite Cokayne being sent off for her second yellow-card offence.

Sadia Kabeya and Kildunne scored either side of a Jess Breach double, before Marlie Packer added further gloss.

Defending champions England are top of the standings with three bonus-point wins, while Scotland are fourth after their second defeat of the championship.

In the shadow of Murrayfield, England dominated possession and territory from the off, and the pressure soon told.

Cokayne, starting her first Red Roses game in a year after overcoming a calf injury, stepped off her left foot to beat one defender, before crashing through another attempted tackle to open the scoring.

Scotland's resolute defence was a feature of both their win over Wales and their narrow defeat by France, and they were forced to make tackle after tackle in the opening stages as England piled forward in blustery conditions.

However, a lovely offload from Kabeya released Dow down the right, and the England winger pinned her ears back to score in the corner.

The visitors thought they had a third score when Maud Muir blasted her way over from close range, but Cokayne was sin-binned for an illegal clearout on Evie Gallagher in the build-up and the try was chalked off.

The numerical disadvantage did not slow England down though, and the third try arrived soon after in stunning fashion.

Holly Aitchison's grubber kick was weighted perfectly for Meg Jones, who showed superb vision to kick the ball square for the onrushing Kildunne. England's full-back beat Alex Stewart to the ball to score under the posts.

Scotland did have their moments in attack, but they were hamstrung by a malfunctioning lineout and several handling errors, as the windy Edinburgh conditions played a part.

Kabeya had the simplest of finishes following a dominant England scrum, which wrapped up the bonus point, and Breach then crossed for her first try of the contest after a clinical backs move.

England played the majority of the second half with 14 players, after Cokayne received a second yellow card for a high tackle on Lana Skeldon.

However, Scotland were unable to turn the tide, and Breach, who said this week that she wanted to "ruin" the home crowd's day, skipped past Helen Nelson to score her second.

The hosts found themselves more and more overrun as the game went on, and Kildunne had the freedom of Edinburgh to stroll into the corner for her sixth try of the tournament.

Regular England captain Packer came off the bench to complete the scoring with a strong finish from close range after Scotland coughed up possession from their own lineout throw.

Bryan Easson's Scotland side have progressed steadily since they went professional and pushed France close last time out, but this was a reminder of just how far ahead England are in the women's game.

The Red Roses have now won 27 consecutive matches in the tournament and are eyeing a third Grand Slam in a row.

Source: BBC
 
Rob Baxter says Exeter will learn from their heavy Investec Champions Cup quarter-final loss at Toulouse.

His talented young side were beaten 64-26 in France as the star-studded Top 14 hosts scored 47 second-half points.

Exeter had been just 17-16 behind at half-time before Toulouse ran in seven tries after the interval to end the Chiefs' European hopes for this season.

"I've been here and experienced far worse things than today in Europe," Baxter said after the defeat.

"I think the first time we went to Clermont I'm not even sure we fired a shot.

"I remember coming off going 'we were overawed', we didn't even do anything in the game, we just kind of stood there, we looked around the stadium and you could see we were completely overawed.

"Some of those guys went on to win a Champions Cup and win Premierships.

"We've got to make sure that's how we use experiences like today."

Having had a host of star players like Stuart Hogg, Sam Simmonds, Jack Nowell, Dave Ewers, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Harry Williams leave in the summer there had been concerns that Exeter's new-look squad would find the going difficult.

But they impressed in the group stage in Europe and are still in the hunt for a Premiership play-off place as the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ethan Roots, Dafydd Jenkins, Greg Fisilau, Josh Hodge and Ross Vintcent begin to make their names in the game.

"We were way ahead of ourselves today than we were at the start of other European journeys with other groups of players, because a lot of these guys are getting experience very quickly - that's been the plan," Baxter added.

"Some of them have jumped way ahead of our expectations whether they've become internationals this season or done things.

"But as a group we've still got some maturing, both physically and mentally, to do because it is a young team.

"Dafydd's the Wales captain but he's only just turned 21, Manny's 20, Greg Fisilau 20, and they're some of our guys who we expect to the carry the mantle for quite a long time.

"They're going to need to be tough through days like today and they're going to have to not brush it off, learn from it, and they're going to have to learn that you can beat the best - but staying competitive is the next step."

Source: BBC
 
Wales forward Josh Turnbull has retired from rugby with immediate effect and says his 17-year career has passed "in the blink of an eye".

The 36-year-old has confirmed his 200th appearance for Cardiff last month is to be his last.

Turnbull began his career with Llanelli in 2007 and only Connacht's John Muldoon made more appearances than his 245 in the United Rugby Championship.

Source: BBC
 
Will Reed looks to pass with Joe Westwood in support as Dragons attack

Will Reed has scored 107 points in 34 Dragons appearances since his March 2022 debut
Fly-half Will Reed has become the latest to commit his future to Dragons.

The 22-year-old is a Dragons academy product and will stay with them for 2024-25, but the club have not stated the duration of his new contract.

"Will has had a very good season for us and really benefited from game time," said Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan.

"His performances have improved throughout the season, and we are excited about his development curve and his continued growth."

Reed joins established senior squad members Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham, Matthew Screech and Angus O'Brien in staying at the east Wales region.

"Will is still a young man with a bright future ahead of him and he is one of a number of exciting homegrown talents that we can build our club around," added Flanagan.

Former Wales Under-20s cap Reed said: "The exposure to senior rugby and playing the number of games I have this season has been hugely beneficial to me.

"I've learned a great deal and I'll take that forward now and look to kick on for Dragons in the seasons ahead."

Source: BBC
 
Six Nations champions Ireland will take on New Zealand in their Autumn Nations Series opener on Friday, 8 November before matches with Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

Source: BBC
 
Scotland and Glasgow Warriors hooker Fraser Brown is to retire at the end of this season.

Brown, 34, has not played since May 2023 after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing for a World XV versus the Barbarians.

Capped 61 times by Scotland, he played at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and scored five international tries.

Source: BBC
 
Leicester centre Kata handed three-game ban

Leicester Tigers centre Solomone Kata has been suspended for three matches for his dangerous tackle on Northampton's Fraser Dingwall.

The Tonga international was shown a red card for the incident when Tigers were just a point down against Saints in Saturday's East Midlands derby.

Northampton took full advantage of his sending-off, as they went on to run in three unanswered tries to win 40-17.

Kata's ban means he could miss the remainder of Leicester's regular season games but if he applies to undertake a World Rugby coaching intervention course, his suspension will be reduced to two matches.

The heavy derby defeat saw Tigers end the weekend eighth in the table and six points adrift of a play-off spot with three matches remaining.

Source: BBC
 
Farrell clinches win over Bath as Saracens go second

Owen Farrell kicked a late penalty as Saracens laid down a major marker in the Premiership title race by beating Bath to move above them into second.

Tom Parton crossed first for Saracens in a highly physical match, before Rotimi Segun added a second try in an expertly managed first half from the visitors.

But the pendulum swung Bath’s way after the break as the hosts’ bench made an impact, with tries from replacements Thomas du Toit and Cameron Redpath levelling the score.

But Farrell's penalty with three minutes to go secured Saracens the win and pushed them above Bath in the table by a point.


BBC
 
Exeter win at Gloucester to maintain play-off hopes

Exeter kept themselves in contention for the Premiership play-offs and closed the gap to the top four with a bonus-point 38-17 win at Gloucester.

Jacques Vermeulen, Dan John and Olly Woodburn scored in a dominant first half from Exeter, as Jonny May and Jack Clement replied for Gloucester.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso added the crucial bonus-point try and while Arthur Clark replied during a spell on top for Gloucester, Vermeulen got a second to take the game away from the hosts.

Exeter stay seventh but closed the gap to fourth-placed Bristol to four points, with two games left to play.


BBC
 

England's Vunipola fined after arrest in Majorca​

England number eight Billy Vunipola has been fined 240 euros (£205) following an incident in Majorca on Sunday in which he was arrested.

BBC Sport understands the 31-year-old was Tasered by police in the early hours of Sunday morning in Palma, the capital of the Spanish island, and subsequently charged with "resisting the law".

While the police investigation is now closed, Saracens, Vunipola's club, say they will deal with the matter "internally".

Vunipola says the incident was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" and he will cooperate with Saracens' internal investigation.

"Contrary to media reports, there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else," said Vunipola.

Vunipola has paid the fine and says he "unreservedly apologises" to those involved.

He will fly back to the UK on Monday.

Vunipola has played for England on 75 occasions, with his last cap coming in the World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa in 2023.

The former Wasps number eight was a second-half substitute for Saracens during their 15-12 victory against Bath on Friday night.

Saracens, who are second in the Gallagher Premiership, are not scheduled to play again until 11 May when they take on Bristol.

Source: BBC
 
England forward Maro Itoje could miss Saracens' Premiership run-in after being cited for a dangerous tackle.

The 29-year-old British and Irish Lion is accused of making head contact with Bath’s Alfie Barbeary in their 15-12 win at the Recreation Ground on Friday.

Itoje, who has won 81 caps for England and five Premiership titles with Sarries, was shown a yellow card for the challenge but the citing officer deemed it a red-card offence after reviewing it.

He faces a tribunal on Tuesday and would likely receive a minimum two-game ban should he be found guilty - which would rule him out of league games against Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks.

Reigning Premiership champions Saracens are second in the table and could well make the play-offs, meaning any ban longer than two matches would rule Itoje out of the knockout matches.

Source: BBC
 
hassan918 said:

England's Vunipola fined after arrest in Majorca​

England number eight Billy Vunipola has been fined 240 euros (£205) following an incident in Majorca on Sunday in which he was arrested.

BBC Sport understands the 31-year-old was Tasered by police in the early hours of Sunday morning in Palma, the capital of the Spanish island, and subsequently charged with "resisting the law".

While the police investigation is now closed, Saracens, Vunipola's club, say they will deal with the matter "internally".

Vunipola says the incident was an "unfortunate misunderstanding" and he will cooperate with Saracens' internal investigation.

"Contrary to media reports, there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else," said Vunipola.

Vunipola has paid the fine and says he "unreservedly apologises" to those involved.

He will fly back to the UK on Monday.

Vunipola has played for England on 75 occasions, with his last cap coming in the World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa in 2023.

The former Wasps number eight was a second-half substitute for Saracens during their 15-12 victory against Bath on Friday night.

Saracens, who are second in the Gallagher Premiership, are not scheduled to play again until 11 May when they take on Bristol.

Source: BBC
Click to expand...
Saracens confirm England forward Billy Vunipola will face no further action from the club after an internal investigation following him being tasered at a nightclub in Majorca.

Sky News
 
Toulouse battle past Quins to reach Champions Cup final

Investec Champions Cup semi-final

Toulouse: (31) 38

Tries: Lebel, Mauvaka, Flament, Dupont 2, Mallia Cons: Kinghorn 3, Ramos

Harlequins: (12) 26

Tries: Smith, Evans, Murley, Green Cons: Smith 3

Toulouse had to withstand a spirited second-half fightback to beat Harlequins and book their place in a first Investec Champions Cup final for three years.

The five-time winners cruised into a healthy lead in the south of France after five tries in the opening 40 minutes from Matthis Lebel, Peato Mauvaka, Thibaud Flament and two for talisman Antoine Dupont.

Quins had crossed through Marcus Smith and Will Evans but trailed by 19 points at the break before testing Toulouse's resolve with tries by Cadan Murley and Tyrone Green.

The visitors reduced the deficit to five points and could smell an upset at a nervy Stadium de Toulouse before Jack Walker was sent to the sin bin for making direct head contact with Dupont.

Toulouse, with the player advantage, immediately punished the hooker as Juan Cruz Mallia scored in the corner to register the hosts' first points of the half and break Quins' resistance.

The Top 14 side will face four-time winners Leinster in a final meeting of the two most successful sides in Champions Cup history at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday, 25 May.



BBC
 

GB's men and women reach SVNS Grand Final in Madrid​

Great Britain's men and women both qualified for this year's SVNS Grand Final after finishing eighth overall.

The men were beaten by Ireland in the semi-final in Singapore before claiming the final qualifying place with a 26-5 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match.

The women's 35-5 victory over Brazil in the group stages secured the last qualifying spot before they were beaten by eventual winners New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

New Zealand claimed the double in the final leg of the league campaign in Singapore as the men beat Ireland in the final to follow the women, who overcame Australia and were also crowned 2024 league winners.

Argentina, meanwhile, became the sixth nation to be crowned men's league winners for the first time in their history.

The inaugural SVNS Grand Final takes place in Madrid between 31 May and 2 June.

GB men's captain Robbie Fergusson says progress makes the tough moments "worthwhile" as they also look forward to next month's final Olympic qualifying tournament as they bid to reach Paris 2024.

"There’s total belief between the 18 boys, the ones that are at home and couldn’t make this trip that are injured that are ready to come back in for the next one, and the boys that have slogged it out here for the last six games," said Fergusson.

"It’s tough going on the body but these moments make it all worthwhile."

GB women have already qualified for the Olympics but their place in the Grand Final was under threat until they beat Brazil and Fiji overcame Japan in their thrilling knockout game.

"We knew we’d put in the work behind the scenes and we had analysed Brazil so we knew exactly what we were going to do coming into this game," said GB's Isla Norman-Bell.

Source: BBC
 
Premiership leaders Northampton Saints scored an extraordinary 14 tries to beat a much-changed Gloucester 90-0 and go five points clear at the top the table.

Ollie Sleightholme ran the visiting defence ragged as he scored a hat-trick in a match which broke the league's record home points tally.

George Furbank's try inside the first two minutes was a sign of things to come as the hosts went over six times in the first half, but Saints added another 50 points after the break as they kept up their incredible energy levels.

Fly-half Fin Smith was in fantastic form, putting eight conversions between the posts on his 22nd birthday.

The victory against a Gloucester side who made 12 changes from their European Challenge Cup semi-final win against Benetton confirmed a home play-off semi-final for Saints.

It was the biggest win of the season, surpassing Bristol's 85-14 thumping of bottom side Newcastle in April, but Richmond's 106-12 victory at Bedford in 1999 remains the record score in the Premiership.

Northampton made a lightning start, with George Hendy making space down the left-hand side to float a pass into the hands of full-back Furbank, who crashed over.

Saints looked in the mood to push for a big score as Frazer Dingwall scored after a clever dummy to avoid a tackle.

Sleightholme then caught Gloucester's defence off guard to score for the first time since becoming a father, before Curtis Langdon wrestled the ball over the line to make it 26-0.

That also gave Saints the bonus point they wanted, but their attack remained unstoppable as Langdon found a burst of energy to touch the ball down for his second try.

Northampton did the simple part of the game brilliantly, showing off their well-rehearsed passing routine in a move which Alex Mitchell rounded off to make it 40-0 at half time.

Gloucester heads began to sink as Furbank teased and twisted around their back line to feed veteran Alex Waller and replacement hooker Sam Matavesi was next to crash down to take it to 52-0.

It was difficult for those inside Franklin's Gardens to keep count as Emmanuel Iyogun, Sleightholme and then Alex Moon went over as second-bottom Gloucester capitulated.

Source: BBC
 

New Zealand captain Cane to retire from internationals​


New Zealand captain Sam Cane will retire from international rugby at the end of 2024 after signing a three-year deal with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath.

Cane will return from a spell with the club at the end of the Japanese season this summer and be eligible to play for the All Blacks for the rest of the year.

The 32-year-old will then return to Japan after New Zealand Rugby, external agreed to release him from the final year of his contract, which ran through until the end of 2025.

“A good opportunity came my way with Suntory Sungoliath willing to offer me a three-year contract,” said Cane.

“I had to weigh up everything and, in the end, with a young family it seemed like the best decision to help set up our future."

The flanker, who made his All Blacks debut in 2012, has played 95 Tests, with 27 as captain, and helped his country win the 2015 World Cup.

However, he became the first male player in World Cup history to be sent off in a final during New Zealand's defeat by South Africa at the 2023 tournament.

The All Blacks have not played a game since then and Cane will not be captain when they are next in action.

“It’s part of the natural process that happens in rugby," said Cane. "I had my time as captain and it was a huge honour and privilege.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be selected in the All Blacks this year then I’ll still be myself."

Cane originally joined Suntory Sungoliath last year when he took up a sabbatical option in his Waikato Chiefs contract.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said: “After discussing this at length with Sam, I fully understand the reasons behind his decision and support him."

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Sam Cane: New Zealand captain to retire from international game

New Zealand captain Sam Cane will retire from international rugby at the end of 2024 after signing a three-year deal with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath.
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Bristol Bears to host Australia in November​

Bristol Bears will play Australia in a friendly at Ashton Gate on 8 November this year.

The Wallabies will take on the Premiership side during their tour of the UK, in which they will play England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in the Autumn Nation Series.

It is the second time in two years the Bears will play an international squad at their home ground, after a record crowd of 26, 387 watched the side beat South Africa's 'A' team 26-18 in November 2022.

“After such an incredible occasion against South Africa a few years ago, the opportunity to welcome another international side of the quality of Australia to Bristol is hugely exciting," said Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam.

“This is a massive opportunity for our players to test themselves against an international standard team, for our staff to put on another unforgettable event and for our incredible supporters to welcome and host Australian supporters from all over the world to Bristol."

Source: BBC
 

Simon Zebo has announced that he will retire from playing rugby at the end of the season.​

The 34-year-old was capped 35 times by Ireland, helping his country win the Six Nations in 2015 and also featuring in that year's World Cup.

He has made 173 appearances for Munster over two spells with the Irish province to date and is their record try-scorer with 72.

Source: BBC
 
Exeter's Slade named Premiership player of season

Exeter Chiefs and England centre Henry Slade has been named Premiership player of the season for 2023-24.

The 31-year-old had been nominated alongside Northampton Saints duo Fin Smith and Courtney Lawes, as well as Bath fly-half Finn Russell.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Slade's team-mate at club and international level, was named breakthrough player of the season.

Phil Dowson, whose Northampton side finished top of the Premiership table with 12 wins from 18 games, won the director of rugby award.

Slade's excellent form contributed to Exeter being in with a chance of reaching the Premiership play-offs going into their final match at Leicester, however, defeat by the Tigers and results elsewhere meant Chiefs eventually finished seventh.

He recently agreed a new contract with the Devon club, ending speculation that he may move to France.

Slade was left out of England's Rugby World Cup squad before the campaign began, but started all five matches of England's Six Nations campaign earlier this year and now has 62 caps for his country.

Winger Feyi-Waboso, 21, made his international debut during the Six Nations, having opted to represent England over his native Wales.

He beat Harlequins duo Fin Baxter and Chandler Cunningham-South, and Newcastle flanker Guy Pepper, to claim the breakthrough player award.

Other prizes announced at the ceremony in London included Saracens' Andy Christie being named community player of the season and a special recognition award for Wayne Barnes, who ended his refereeing career after officiating South Africa's Rugby World Cup final victory over New Zealand in October.


BBC
 

Toulouse edge Leinster in Champions Cup final thriller​

Toulouse's Thomas Ramos kicked three extra-time penalties to help edge out Leinster in a pulsating Investec Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Wing Matthis Lebel scored the first try in extra time for the French side, before team-mate Richie Arnold was sent off for a dangerous clearout at a ruck.

Leinster took advantage and scored through Josh van der Flier, but replacement Ramos sealed Toulouse's sixth European Cup crown with two penalties in the second half of extra time.

Ciaran Frawley, also on as a replacement, could have won the game for the Irish province in normal time, but dragged a last-minute drop-goal wide.

The result means Leinster have now lost three Champions Cup finals in a row, after back-to-back defeats by La Rochelle.

Victory means Toulouse are now two titles clear of Leinster as the most successful club in European rugby.

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Investec Champions Cup final: Toulouse 31-22 Leinster a.e.t. – French giants win extra-time thriller

Toulouse win their sixth European Cup as Thomas Ramos comes on to kick his side past Leinster in an extra-time thriller at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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Directors of rugby agree on overseas player rule

Leading figures in the club game have urged the Rugby Football Union to stick with their policy of not selecting players based overseas.

A number of England stars will play in France next season, making them ineligible for the national side.

But top directors of rugby agree the rule must stay if the Premiership is to catch the Top 14 and become the best in the world.

"It is one of the carrots that keep players in the country," said Northampton's Phil Dowson.

"If all the best players leave because the financial incentives are such - and you can still play for England - then the league looks a very different place I think.

"I’m grateful that if you want to play for England you still have to play in England – that is a rule which certainly I support," added Mark McCall of Saracens.

"It’s a fair decision," said Bath’s Johann van Graan.

"I have a view that people will come and people will go. It is our job to catch the Top 14 and become the best league in the world.

"It is always unfortunate when you lose players, but that’s life, and new players will come and they will become heroes."


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Premiership semi-finals: Directors of rugby urge RFU to stick with overseas player rule

The Premiership play-offs' directors of rugby urge the Rugby Football Union to stick with their policy of not selecting players based overseas.
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Seven uncapped players in England training squad​

England head coach Steve Borthwick has announced an initial 19-player summer tour training squad for matches against Japan and New Zealand.

Seven uncapped players have been named including Exeter Chiefs back row Greg Fisilau.

Props Dan Cole and Joe Marler are available for this summer's Tests but will not link up with England until the next camp on 4 June.

Ollie Chessum and Ellis Genge are both unavailable because of injury.

The training squad does not contain players competing in the Premiership semi-finals taking place on 31 May and 1 June.

Northampton Saints, Saracens, Bath and Sale Sharks have made the play-offs in the English top flight.

England are set to play Japan on 22 June and in New Zealand on 6 and 13 July.

The Tests will be the first since the Six Nations, in which England finished third.

Full England squad

Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs), Rusi Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)

Backs: Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), Max Malins (Bristol Bears), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Source: BBC
 

Leinster and ex-Ireland forward Ruddock to retire​

Leinster back row and former Ireland international Rhys Ruddock is to retire from playing rugby at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old will call time on his career as one of the province's most decorated players, having played 228 games for Leinster since making his debut in 2009.

Ruddock was called up to the Ireland squad as a 19-year-old on the summer tour to Australia in 2010 by then-coach Declan Kidney, making his debut against the Wallabies in Spain.

The flanker was part of Ireland's 2014 Six Nations-winning squad, earning 27 caps, the last of which came against France in 2021.

He also featured in the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups for Ireland.

The son of former Leinster and Wales head coach Mike Ruddock, Rhys was born in Dublin and grew up in Wales, before joining the Leinster academy and making his debut for the province against the Dragons.

With Leinster, he won six league titles, three Champions Cup crowns and a Challenge Cup in a distinguished career.

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make. To retire from playing the game you love isn't easy, however, after 15 years of professional rugby, I feel the time is right for me now and I’m excited for the next chapter," said Ruddock.

"Supporting the Leinster team in Donnybrook as an eight-year-old, while my dad was coach, I could only have dreamed about putting on a Leinster jersey myself. To go on to play my whole career with this team has been a dream come true.

“Leinster has been such a huge part of my life. I have made some of my best friends here, with teammates past and present and had the privilege to be coached by, and work with, the most amazing group of people.

“To have had the opportunity to captain both Leinster and Ireland has been an incredible honour and is something I will always treasure and look back on with pride.

Source: BBC
 
Rob Burrow, the former rugby league star who worked tirelessly to raise awareness around motor neurone disease (MND) after being diagnosed with the illness, has died at the age of 41.


SKY News
 

England name 33-player training squad as Tom Curry returns ahead of summer Tests vs Japan, New Zealand​

Tom Curry has been included in England's 33-player training camp named by head coach Steve Borthwick on Monday, having played just once since the Rugby World Cup due to hip surgery.

Curry is named alongside twin brother Ben in a squad which does not contain players from Premiership finalists Northampton Saints or Bath - who face other at Twickenham on Saturday.

Tom Curry's first appearance since October came in Sale Sharks' Premiership semi-final defeat away to Bath last weekend.

England travel to face Japan on June 22 before a two-Test series against New Zealand on July 6 and July 13, live on Sky Sports.

Prop Bevan Rodd earns a recall while his Sale team-mates Raffi Quirke and the uncapped Joe Carpenter will also get the chance to try and make Borthwick's final squad selection.

Harlequins prop Fin Baxter, Exeter back-row Greg Fisilau and lock Rusi Tuima, and Bristol hooker Gabriel Oghre are other players who have received a call-up in the forwards.

In the backs, Gloucester's Charlie Atkinson, Harlequins' Luke Northmore, Bristol's Harry Randall and Sale's Tom Roebuck have made the panel at this stage.

Leicester Tigers scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet also returns following a lengthy spell absent with injury.

The group of 33 players will take part in a four-day training camp with England from Tuesday June 4. Borthwick will then name his official touring group on Monday June 10.

33-player squad named for England training camp

Forwards (20):

Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs), Rusi Tuima (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Willis (Saracens)

Backs (13):

Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Max Malins (Bristol Bears), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).

Source: SKY
 

Rugby unites to remember Rob Burrow​

Rugby league and rugby union have come together on their biggest days of the season to pay tribute to Rob Burrow.

The 41-year-old died on Sunday having lived with motor neurone disease (MND) since being diagnosed in late 2019.

The Challenge Cup final between Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves had its kick-off moved to 15:07 BST in honour of Burrow's number seven shirt which he wore during a stellar rugby league career with Leeds Rhinos.

Two huge banners depicting Burrow were displayed at either end of Wembley while Abide With Me was sung as the players and match officials walked out wearing shirts bearing his number on their backs.

A minute's silence was observed at the start of both the men's and women's Challenge Cup finals.

At Twickenham in rugby union's Premiership final fans stood and applauded for Burrow in the seventh minute, a tribute which also took place in both matches at Wembley.

On a shirt placed underneath the rugby league statue at Wembley a fan wrote: "You were a great player, a great man and an even bigger inspiration. We will never forget you."

Burrow's team-mate Jamie Peacock told BBC Sport: "It's about celebrating the good that Rob brought not only to the world of rugby league, but to the world as a whole.

"In his battle with MND the greater world got to be inspired by it."

He added: "Sitting back nearly a week after Rob's passed away, that's the celebration I try to take out of it is the bigger world coming together."

Fellow half-back Kevin Brown praised Burrow's attitude on the field as a player, standing only 5ft 5in against much bigger opposition.

"He was an inspiration for any little player because he punched above his weight," he told BBC Sport.

"When people talk about toughness they normally talk about the big men, but Rob Burrow was as tough as anyone and he'd scare the life out of the big men because often he'd duck underneath and go through the other side."

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Rob Burrow: Rugby unites to remember Leeds star who died of MND

Rugby league and rugby union come together on their biggest days of the season to pay tribute to Rob Burrow.
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Sale flanker Tom Curry has been named in England coach Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad for the tour of Japan and New Zealand, with seven players from the champions Northampton also included.

Curry has only played just over half an hour of rugby since last year's Rugby World Cup because of a serious hip injury.

BBC
 

Emerging Ireland to tour South Africa in October​

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) will send an Emerging Ireland squad to South Africa later this year for a three-match competition in Bloemfontein.

Ireland defence coach Simon Easterby has been named head coach for the tour, having also held that role in 2022.

Easterby, who is a candidate to lead Ireland's senior team in next year's Six Nations while head coach Andy Farrell focuses on British and Irish Lions duties, will be assisted by forwards Paul O'Connell, scrum coach John Fogarty and backs coach Andrew Goodman.

The Emerging Ireland squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin on 25 September before travelling to South Africa three days later.

They will face the Pumas on 2 October and Western Force on 6 October before concluding the tour against the Cheetahs three days later, with Toyota Stadium hosting all three games.

The games will be played a month before the senior side face New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia in the autumn Tests.

The Emerging Ireland tour in 2022 proved a success for the IRFU with Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash and Joe McCarthy all making an impression in South Africa before graduating to Farrell's senior set-up.

Source: BBC
 
Ten uncapped players in Scotland's tour squad

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named 10 uncapped players in his 37-man squad for the Americas Tour this summer.

As expected, a number of key players, including Finn Russell, Ben White, Jack Dempsey, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist, have been rested for the matches against Canada, United States, Chile and Uruguay.

Loosehead prop Nathan McBeth, back-five forward Gregor Brown and second row Max Williamson, all from Glasgow Warriors, are included, having trained with the Scotland squad in recent times, along with winger Arron Reed from Sale Sharks, who was in this year's Six Nations squad.

Reed's scrum-half clubmate, Gus Warr, has represented Scotland at age-grade level, while 21-year-old hooker Patrick Harrison is already Edinburgh’s youngest ever in the position.

Former Scotland Under-20s captain and hooker Robbie Smith, of Northampton Saints, Oyonnax second row Ewan Johnson, Leicester Tigers tighthead prop Will Hurd and Edinburgh centre Matt Currie are the other uncapped players.



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Scotland: 10 uncapped players in Americas Tour squad

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend names 10 uncapped players in his 37-man squad for the Americas Tour this summer.
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Springbok injuries mount before Ireland series​

World champions South Africa will be without several injured players for their opening Test with Ireland in Pretoria on 6 July.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed injuries to backs Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse and forwards Steven Kitshoff, Jean Kleyn and Lood de Jager.

Wing Cheslin Kolbe is also a doubt for the first Test having been ruled out of the Boks' one-off Test against Wales at Twickenham on 22 June.

South Africa host Ireland at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria before a second Test at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on 13 July.

The Boks have not played since beating New Zealand to clinch their second successive World Cup in October.

Ireland have won their past three matches against the Boks, including a 13-8 victory in the pool stages of last year's World Cup.

Source: BBC
 

Super Rugby winger Garden-Bachop dies aged 25​

New Zealand Super Rugby player Connor Garden-Bachop has died at the age of 25.

Garden-Bachop died in Christchurch "following a medical event" on Monday, New Zealand Rugby said.

The winger's father, Stephen Bachop, played for Samoa and New Zealand and his mother, Sue Garden-Bachop, played for the New Zealand women's team, the Black Ferns.

He was the nephew of scrum-half Graeme Bachop, who played for the All Blacks at the 1991 and 1995 World Cups, and for Japan at the 1999 tournament.

Garden-Bachop most recently played for the Highlanders for five years, leaving earlier this month at the end of their Super Rugby campaign, where they reached the quarter-finals.

"All of rugby walks alongside the Garden-Bachop family at this time and we are collectively united in our grief," read the statement.

"Connor was a fantastic young player, an exciting New Zealand age-grade representative and a proud Maori All Black.

"Wherever he played, he was a committed and popular team-mate with infectious energy and someone who could light up the room."

Source: BBC
 
Flanker Taine Plumtree says Wales will adopt a "nothing-to-lose" mentality against world champions South Africa as he prepares for his Test match return on Saturday

Plumtree is back on the international stage after 10 months away, gaining a starting place against the Springboks at Twickenham.

It has been a testing period for the 24-year-old, who suffered a shoulder injury last summer that effectively ended his World Cup hopes, before missing the Six Nations with similar problems.

The Scarlets back row impressed on his two previous international appearances in World Cup warm-up games against England.

Plumtree is highly regarded by the Wales management and now has a golden opportunity to showcase his quality, with the Springboks on the immediate agenda followed by a two-Test Australia tour.

An inexperienced Wales side have been written off in most quarters this weekend, with Warren Gatland's team having lost their last six games and finishing bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 20 years.

"Facing the Springboks is going to be a challenge, but it is the best time for us as a team to show what we are made of and to test ourselves," said Plumtree.

"I am going into this week feeling we have got nothing to lose and hopefully put out a performance that will help us to build into the summer tour.

"Any team that plays against the Springboks knows they want to control the game through their pack and how physical they can be.

"That is going to be their mindset. Our mindset has to be going up against that and giving it back to them.

"I think the only way is forward for us. We just want to bring back that real fight that Wales have always had."

Source: BBC
 
Bryan Habana says South Africa must return to their core principles in order to qualify for the men’s rugby sevens tournament at this year’s Olympic Games

Kenya beat the Blitzboks to a spot in Paris in African qualifying, but the reigning Commonwealth champions have another chance to book their place via a 12-team tournament in Monaco this weekend.

However, only the winners of the event will be heading to the French capital next month.

Rugby World Cup winner Habana was part of the South Africa sevens set-up before the sport made its debut at the 2016 Olympics, but did not make the final squad which took bronze in Rio de Janeiro.

“It's been a strange old season for the Blitzboks,” Habana, 41, told BBC Sport Africa.

“There's been a change of management, and it's always difficult in any transition period to try and keep the consistency of success.

“If they play to the best of their abilities, given the talent, skill, leadership and coaching that we have within that group, they're more than capable enough to qualify for the Olympics.”

South Africa’s men were among the most consistent performers on the world sevens circuit, with three titles and six second-placed finishes between 2012-13 and 2021-22.

Yet the departure of long-serving coach Neil Powell at the end of 2022 led to a drop-off in results.

Philip Snyman replaced Sandile Ngcobo as coach in March, and the Blitzboks ended the SVNS tour in seventh place for the second successive season – with their sole series win in the most recent campaign coming in Dubai last December.

“Neil Powell laid an incredible foundation with his team for the better part of 10-12 years,” Habana said.

“I think when you lose someone like that, if you really just look at Manchester United and what's happened post Alex Ferguson, it's really difficult to make sure that that transition is as good as possible.

“A lot of the players who were instrumental in winning Commonwealth gold have since moved on into the 15s format of the game.”

Source: BBC
 
Smith stars as England cruise past Japan in Tokyo

Marcus Smith boosted his chances of retaining England's number 10 jersey for their upcoming series with New Zealand after starring in a comfortable win over Japan.

The Harlequins fly-half scored 13 points, including a slick try from a well-executed set-play move, as England began their summer tour by overcoming Eddie Jones' side in Tokyo.

Japan started brightly in humid conditions as Seungsin Lee's penalty handed them the lead, but England soaked up the early pressure and hit back through a powerful finish by Chandler Cunningham-South on his first Test start.

Smith then came to the fore as he finished off a smart line-out routine to carve through the Japanese midfield, before two moments of brilliance set up tries for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade.

A slight delay in his pass over the top for Feyi-Waboso caused enough doubt in the Japan defence for the wing to score unopposed, before Slade crossed from the same wide channel as Smith changed England's direction of attack to land a pin-point crossfield kick for his centre to claim.

Smith's half-back partner Alex Mitchell inflicted further damage on the hosts after the break with a snipe from close range before then turning provider for Ben Earl to power over after another clever break.

The one negative for Smith was his yellow card for an early tackle as the Brave Blossoms threatened to score their first try, but England quickly regained momentum when Harry Randall replaced Mitchell to exploit the same Japanese frailties at the fringes.

Japan's spirited performance was rewarded with a couple of late consolation tries by Koga Nezuka and Samisoni Tua, but England had the final say as Sam Underhill's try took them to a half century of points.

England ended the game with 14 players as replacement lock Charlie Ewels was sent off for a cynical clear-out attempt on Japan captain Michael Leitch.

BBC
 

Wales 13-41 South Africa: Springboks eventually secure Test victory over Warren Gatland's side at Twickenham​

South Africa picked up victory in their first Test match since October's Rugby World Cup final, beating Wales 41-13 at Twickenham in the first weekend of the summer internationals.

The Springboks were on top for a large part of the first half, scoring early through a Jesse Kriel try and then a penalty try as Wales were reduced to 13 players with wing Rio Dyer (cynical offside) and No 8 Aaron Wainwright (maul collapse) sin-binned.

Wales dug in to keep the score at 14-3, however, and once Springbok full-back Aphelele Fassi was shown yellow for a high boot after claiming an aerial ball - an incident which was reviewed for a potential red card - Wales skipper Dewi Lake replied with a try.

Fly-half Sam Costelow kicked a further two penalties either side of that score to get Wales within a point, but a controversial try early into the second half through Makazole Mapimpi - the TMO failing to intervene despite a clear Kriel forward pass - put the Boks back in control.

Hooker Bongi Mbonami and wing Edwill van der Merwe then added further tries inside the final 11 minutes, after a period of some Welsh pressure which went without tries.

Jordan Hendrikse missed an early penalty chance for South Africa but the Springboks went ahead after just four minutes when they shredded Wales' defence through a sweeping attack.

Mapimpi broke clear after collecting Fassi's pass, and supporting centre Kriel was afforded a simple finish, before Hendrikse converted for a 7-0 lead.

Costelow opened Wales' account through a seventh-minute penalty but they were soon on the back-foot again following Springboks No 8 Evan Roos' midfield surge, with wing Dyer being yellow-carded for a technical infringement.

South Africa then attacked from a close-range lineout and referee Chris Busby awarded them a penalty try after Wales forward Wainwright illegally pulled down a maul. Wainwright was sin-binned and South Africa had an 11-point advantage.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Wales should have scored early in the second quarter after Liam Williams intercepted Hendrikse's pass, but scrum-half Ellis Bevan couldn't gather the ball from centre Mason Grady and a glorious chance went astray.

Wales did not have to wait much longer, though, to cut the deficit after Fassi was yellow-carded when his boot caught flanker Taine Plumtree high on the shoulder.

South Africa could not clear danger from a lineout inside their own 22 and Lake pounced for a score that Costelow converted, making it 14-10.

It was an impressive recovery by Wales and their fightback continued six minutes before half-time when another Costelow penalty meant that South Africa led by just a point.

Wales lost prop Keiron Assiratti with an injury on the stroke of half-time - he was replaced by Harri O'Connor - yet his team had defied pre-match odds at the halfway point.

South Africa struck within two minutes of the second half starting as they simply out-flanked Wales' defence and Mapimpi had a straightforward run-in - after collecting Kriel's forward delivery - with Hendrikse converting from the touchline.

Hendrikse kicked a long-range penalty to extend South Africa's advantage, then his replacement Feinberg-Mngomezulu bisected Wales' posts from inside his own half, and Wales trailed by 14 points.

The quality of South Africa's replacements' bench began to take its toll, and Wales were powerless to prevent Mbonambi crashing over from close range as the Springboks moved past 30 points, with Van der Merwe breaking clear five minutes from time.

Source: SKY
 

Isiekwe to join England in New Zealand after Ewels banIsiekwe to join England in New Zealand after Ewels ban​


England have called up lock Nick Isiekwe for their two-test tour of New Zealand to replace the suspended Charlie Ewels, who has been handed a two-match ban following his red card in the 52-17 victory over Japan on Saturday.

Ewels was sent off for a dangerous clear-out at the ruck on Japan captain Michael Leitch. He is the first player to be sent off in consecutive tests and the first England player to receive two red cards, with World Rugby confirming his ban on Sunday.

The 28-year-old is fortunate to only collect a two-match ban having also been sent off after 83 seconds in his last international against Ireland in March 2022. He will miss both tests against the All Blacks on July 6 and 13.

Isiekwe, 26, won the first of his 11 caps in 2017 and was named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations but left the camp due to illness before the first game.

"He is fully fit and ready to go," Borthwick was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "He’s a guy who’s been around the England squad for a time and he obviously knows many of the players.

"He’s desperate for an opportunity and was gutted not to be in the original squad."

 

Lock Barrett named All Blacks captain for England​

Lock Scott Barrett has been named New Zealand's new captain while five uncapped players have been called up for the All Blacks' upcoming Tests against England and Fiji.

Barrett, 30, will have his brother Jordie and reigning World Player of the Year Ardie Savea as his vice-captains.

Two-time World Player of the Year Beauden is the third Barrett brother in new coach Scott Robertson's first All Black squad.

Uncapped loose forward Wallace Sititi's outstanding season for the Waikato Chiefs has been rewarded with a first call-up.

The All Blacks face England on 6 July in Dunedin and then a week later in Auckland, before playing Fiji in San Diego, California on 20 July.

"When you think of the leaders who have gone before you, it's quite humbling to be asked to captain the All Blacks, so it's not something I took lightly," said Barrett, who has earned 69 caps since making his international debut in 2016.

"It's a big responsibility, but I have two great leaders beside me in Ardie and Jordie."

Robertson has replaced Ian Foster, who left after last year's World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

"There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important," said Robertson who coached Barrett for seven years at the Crusaders.

"He's tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he’s got the respect of the players and coaches."

Previous captain Sam Cane, who is set to retire from international rugby at the end of the year, was not considered because of injury.

The other uncapped players joining Sititi in the 32-man squad are scrum-half Cortez Ratima, hooker George Bell, prop Pasilio Tosi and centre Billy Proctor.

TJ Perenara and Patrick Tuipulotu, who both missed New Zealand's World Cup campaign in France through injury, return to the squad.

Scrum-half Perenara, who has 80 caps, spent more than a year on the side-lines following back-to-back surgeries, having ruptured the same ligament during his rehabilitation.

"As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we've selected," Robertson added. "We know it's a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024."

New Zealand squad:
Forwards: Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes), Codie Taylor (Crusaders), George Bell (Crusaders), Ethan De Groot (Highlanders), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders), Pasilio Tosi (Bay of Plenty), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues), Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury), Scott Barrett (Crusaders), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders), Samipeni Finau (Chiefs), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), Dalton Papali'i (Blues), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Wallace Sititi (Chiefs)

Backs: Finlay Christie (Blues), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Cortez Ratima (Chiefs), Beauden Barrett (Toyota Verblitz), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Billy Proctor (Hurricanes), Caleb Clarke (Blues), Emoni Narawa (Chiefs), Stephen Perofeta (Blues), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Mark Tele'a (Blues)

Source: BBC
 
Ashton Gate to host Rugby World Cup semi-finals

Bristol's Ashton Gate will host both semi-finals at next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The 27,000-capacity venue will also share the quarter-finals along with Exeter's Sandy Park, which hosted the Premiership Women's Rugby final last week.

Twickenham has already been announced as the venue for the final while the Stadium of Light in Sunderland will host the opening game with England playing.

The tournament starts on Friday, 22 August with the quarter-finals over the weekend of 13-14 September.

The semi-finals will take place a week later with the final and bronze-medal match on 27 September.

The Red Roses will also play in Northampton and Brighton and Hove during the pool stage, with Manchester, York and Exeter also hosting group games.

The first tickets will go on sale in September priced from £5 to £95.

The £95 category one adult ticket for the final at Twickenham becomes the highest value non-hospitality ticket for an international women’s team sport event in the UK, while 60% of tickets are priced under £25.

Sarah Massey, managing director for Rugby World Cup 2025, described the tournament as a “generational moment” and expects “unprecedented demand” for tickets.


www.bbc.com

2025 Women's Rugby World Cup: Ashton Gate to host semi-finals

Bristol's Ashton Gate will host both semi-finals at next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.
www.bbc.com
 

South Africa recall Kolisi for Tests with Ireland​

South Africa have recalled two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi for next month's Test series against Ireland.

The 33-year-old was not considered for selection for South Africa's win over Wales last weekend because he is based in Europe with France club Racing 92.

But the loose forward, who led the Springboks to the World Cup in 2019 and 2023, is one of 39 players named by coach Rassie Erasmus for the series against the Six Nations champions.

South Africa and Ireland meet in sold-out Tests in Pretoria on 6 July and in Durban seven days later, with the world champions also facing Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July.

Erasmus has said he prefers Springbok captains to be based in South Africa but has not ruled out retaining "exceptional leader" Kolisi.

Fit-again wing Cheslin Kolbe and centre Lukhanyo Am are also in the squad, alongside three uncapped players in hookers Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels as well as number eight Phepsi Buthelezi.

The Springboks have a lengthy injury list that includes prop Steven Kitshoff, locks Jean Kleyn and Lood de Jager, and backs Canan Moodie and Damian Willemse, while number eight Jasper Wiese is suspended.

Wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and loose forward Marco van Staden have also been included following their United Rugby Championship final defeat with the Bulls.

Erasmus, who has taken over as head coach again with Jacques Nienaber in charge of Irish province Leinster, has also named 14 players in a standby squad.

"With squad depth being one of our key pillars as we build toward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, we thought it would be beneficial to name a few players who will join us at training sporadically in the next few weeks," he said.

Ireland have beaten South Africa in their past three meetings, including a 13-8 win at the pool stage of last year's World Cup in France.

However, while the Springboks recovered to secure back-to-back world titles, Ireland were beaten by New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

South Africa squad
Forwards: Phepsi Buthelezi, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Grobbelaar, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese.

Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams.

Standby: Jean-Luc du Preez, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Celimpilo Gumede, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ruben van Heerden, Andre-Hugo Venter, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Siya Masuku.

Source: BBC
 
Cheika appointed Leicester head coach

Leicester Tigers have appointed former Australia and Argentina boss Michael Cheika as their head coach.

The 57-year-old succeeds fellow Australian Dan McKellar at the Premiership side, with the former ACT Brumbies boss leaving by mutual consent last week.

Cheika, who guided Leinster to European glory with a win against Leicester in the 2009 Heineken Cup final, left his post with Argentina after guiding the Pumas to a fourth-placed finish at last year's Rugby World Cup.


BBC
 

Can Ireland finally win a series in South Africa?​


Ireland's intriguing Test series in South Africa was announced in December and seven months of build-up is finally nearly over.

Ireland won last year's rip-roaring World Cup encounter on neutral soil in Paris, so the Springboks will be keen for revenge as they look to cement their place at the top of the world rankings.

South Africa are back-to-back world champions while Ireland are back-to-back Six Nations winners.

Andy Farrell's side have not played since they clinched the Six Nations against Scotland in March, while South Africa returned to action with a comfortable win over Wales at Twickenham in June.

Before this month's eagerly anticipated series, here are some storylines to look out for.

Ireland eye historic series win

While Ireland have beaten the Springboks in each of their past three meetings, their record in South Africa is not much to shout about, with one win and nine defeats.

That sole victory came during their 2016 tour, when Joe Schmidt's side shrugged off CJ Stander's 22nd-minute red card to beat the Boks 20-16 in Cape Town.

Allister Coetzee's side, however, regrouped to win Tests in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, denying Ireland a historic series win.

Since then, of course, Ireland have won series against Australia in 2018 (their first against the Wallabies since 1979) and the All Blacks in 2022, the latter marking a historic first series triumph on New Zealand soil.

And while Schmidt's Ireland were a well-oiled unit, Farrell's side are arguably even better.

The World Cup was ultimately a disappointment and they failed to clinch back-to-back Grand Slams in this year's Six Nations, but they will feel they are still well placed to win a series in South Africa.

Of course, with this being a two-Test tour, the likelihood of a draw increases. But if Ireland can replicate the spirit that underpinned their wins over the All Blacks in Dunedin and Wellington two years ago, they stand a chance.

It is also worth noting that this could be this Ireland side's last chance. With the British and Irish Lions tour next year and the introduction of the Nations Championship in 2026, this could be the last traditional tour to South Africa for a while.

Source: BBC
 
Former Australia captain Michael Hooper has retired from international duty after his hopes of appearing at the Paris Olympics ended.

The 32-year-old, who captained the Wallabies a record 69 times in his 125-Test career, transitioned from 15-man rugby to sevens after being frozen out of the side by Eddie Jones following the 2023 World Cup.

But Hooper has decided to immediately step down from playing for his country after failing to gain a spot in Australia's sevens team for the Olympics in July.

BBC
 

Springboks name 12 World Cup winners to face Ireland​

South Africa have named 12 starters from their 2023 Rugby World Cup final triumph in their side for the opening Test with Ireland on Saturday.

Scrum-half Faf de Klerk was an injury doubt for the opening match but has been passed fit to start.

Handre Pollard, who kicked four penalties in the 12-11 win over New Zealand, has been named at fly-half.

Full-back Willie le Roux, back row Kwagga Smith and prop Ox Nche, who will all start in Pretoria, came off the bench in the World Cup showpiece.

In the matchday squad to face the Irish, only replacements Gerhard Steenekamp, Salmaan Moerat and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu did not feature in the final.

There are a number of players missing for the Springboks including Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Steven Kitshoff and locks Jean Kleyn and Lood de Jager.

"This is the team we believe will give us the impetus we need against Ireland, who are the second-highest ranked team in the world," said Erasmus, who has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench.

"We are blessed to have a lot of depth in our squad, and we are in a fortunate position to have several Rugby World Cup-winners in our ranks who know what it takes to perform at the highest level.

"The fact that most of these guys have played together is a bonus for us, and most of them have faced Ireland before so they are well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, especially since we haven’t beaten them since 2016."

Ireland have never won a Test series in South Africa but were the only team to defeat the Springboks during the World Cup in a thrilling 13-8 win the pool stages in Paris.

Andy Farrell will announce his team for the opening match on Thursday.

South Africa: W le Roux; C Kolbe; J Kriel, D de Allende; KL Arendse; H Pollard; F de Klerk; O Nche, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, F Mostert; S Kolisi (capt), PS du Toit, K Smith.

Replacements: M Marx, G Steenekamp, V Koch, S Moerat, RG Snyman, M van Staden, G Williams, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Source: BBC
 
Five debutants in Scotland XV to face Canada

Gregor Townsend has named five uncapped players in Scotland's line-up to face Canada in Saturday's summer tour
opener.

Edinburgh centre Matt Currie, Sale Sharks duo, wing Arron Reed and scrum-half Gus Warr, and lock Max Williamson and flanker Gregor Brown - both of Glasgow Warriors - will start at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.

Northampton Saints hooker Robbie Smith, Glasgow prop Nathan McBeth, Leicester Tigers prop Will Hurd, Oyonnax lock Ewan Johnson and Edinburgh wing Ross McCann could win their first Scotland caps off the bench.

Prop Rory Sutherland is the most experienced starter with 30 appearances, while back-row Matt Fagerson, with 44 caps, and versatile back Kyle Steyn, with 19, offer experience off the bench.

Every other player selected has fewer than nine caps, including co-captains Luke Crosbie (eight) and centre Stafford McDowall (two).

The Scots will also play the United States (12 July), Chile (20 July) and Uruguay (27 July), with the latter two Tests shown live on BBC Scotland and iPlayer.


BBC
 

New Zealand beat England in thrilling first Test​


New Zealand (10) 16

Try: Reece, Savea Pen: McKenzie 2

England (10) 15

Try: Itoje, Feyi-Waboso Con: Smith Pen: Smith

New Zealand edged past England 16-15 in a thrilling opening Test in Dunedin to kickstart Scott Robertson's era as head coach with a win.

Damian McKenzie kicked two second-half penalties to overturn England's advantage after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's try opened up a five-point lead for the visitors.

The sides were level at the interval as Sevu Reece and Ardie Savea scored either side of a Maro Itoje try converted by Marcus Smith, who missed three of his five kicks, including one close to the line of the posts.

England started brightly after the break and Feyi-Waboso's finish in the corner after some powerful work at close quarters gave Steve Borthwick's side belief of ending their 21-year-old wait for a win in New Zealand.

McKenzie, however, recovered from two missed conversion attempts in the first half to bang over six points to hand the All Blacks victory in their first game since last year's World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

The fly-half could have stretched the hosts' lead further late on but he was timed out of taking another penalty on the shot clock.

England will look to avenge their defeat in the final Test of the two-game series in Auckland next Saturday.

Missed chance for spirited England​

England knew the task at hand when they arrived in New Zealand, where they have not tasted victory since the golden era in the summer before their only World Cup success in 2003.

Victory over Japan in their opening game of the summer tour would have given them and star fly-half Smith confidence of success, and, on this evidence, England can match it with the very best.

The blitz defence continues to develop under the tutelage of Felix Jones and caused New Zealand problems, although it was breached early on through Reece, who latched on to McKenzie’s accurate crossfield kick.

The visitors fired back with a well-prepared line-out as the All Blacks set up to defend a mall before England moved it quickly for Chandler Cunningham-South to power towards the line. The flanker was hauled down just short but Itoje picked up and smashed over from close range.

The ever-reliable Ben Earl was then caught out by the fleet-footed Stephen Perofeta - a surprise selection at full-back over two-time world player of the year Beauden Barrett - who fed Savea to cross out wide.

Smith missed a penalty to hand England an early lead after half-time, but he quickly responded with an excellent delayed pass to set Cunningham-South through in midfield before firing the pass wide for Feyi-Waboso to score his third try in five Tests.

Smith missed the conversion, which proved to be decisive, but England will be buoyed by their defensive performance to limit the All Blacks to 16 points at home, and their intent to attack in range of the tryline.

All Blacks prevail in new era​

The All Blacks pitched up at their most southerly home with a new coach and a new captain at the start of a new era.

Head coach Robertson was appointed in November, replacing Ian Foster, who led the team to a single-point defeat by the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup final.

Robertson made Scott Barrett his captain but the lock would not lead his brother Beauden from the start in a big call at full-back.

The first objective for Robertson was to overcome an England side they had not beaten in their past two attempts after a thrilling 25-25 draw at Twickenham in 2022 and that famous England win at the 2019 World Cup semi-final.

However, the new coach was vindicated in his selection of Perofeta, who produced a moment of brilliance to expose Earl in the one bright moment of attack.

Victory was all that mattered but there is clearly work to do for the All Blacks to find their fluency as they embark on the next cycle leading to the 2027 World Cup.

Line-ups​

New Zealand: Perofeta; Reece, Ioane, J Barrett, Tele'a; McKenzie, Perenara; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett (capt), Tuipulotu, Finau, Papali’i, Savea.

Replacements: Aumua, Tu’ungafasi, Newell, Vaa'i, Jacobson, Christie, Lienert-Brown, B Barrett.

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Mitchell; Marler, George (capt), Stuart; Itoje, Martin; Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Cole, Coles, Curry, Spencer, F Smith, Sleightholme.

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

www.bbc.com

New Zealand 16-15 England: All Blacks win first Test in Dunedin

New Zealand edge past England 16-15 in a thrilling opening Test in Dunedin to kickstart Scott Robertson's era as head coach with a win.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 

Australia begin Schmidt era with victory against Wales​

Australia defeated Wales in Sydney to give new coach Joe Schmidt an opening victory in his first match in charge.

Tries from Taniela Tupou, Filipo Daugunu and Tom Wright set up the victory with Wales managing a penalty try and nine points from new fly-half Ben Thomas.

Warren Gatland's side suffered their eighth successive international defeat which is Wales' worst losing sequence since a run of losses in 2012 and 2013.

The latest loss means Wales drop to their lowest position in World Rugby's rankings, slipping to 11th and falling outside the top 10 for the first time.

It was a 14th loss in 20 matches for Gatland in his second stint in charge after returning as head coach at the end of 2022.

It was also a 12th successive defeat against the Wallabies in Australia in an away losing streak that stretches back to 1969.

Number eight Aaron Wainwright was Wales' most impressive performer but limped off in the final minute and there were also injury concerns about Gareth Thomas and Liam Williams.

Gatland will point to a second-half try that was disallowed for obstruction but the tourists offered little in attack and were hampered by a malfunctioning line-out.

Australia will now look to wrap up the two-Test series in Melbourne next Saturday.

www.bbc.com

Australia 25-16 Wales: Wallabies begin Schmidt era with victory

Australia defeat Wales in Sydney to give new coach Joe Schmidt an opening victory in his first match in charge.
www.bbc.com
 

South Africa 27-20 Ireland: Crucial TMO decisions fall Springboks way for summer series victory​

Two crucial TMO decisions fell South Africa's way as they defeated Ireland 27-20 at Loftus Versfeld in the first of their two-Test series, live on Sky Sports.

Welsh TMO Ben Whitehouse ruled out a James Lowe try for Ireland due to a subjective breakdown call, and then fed back there was 'inconclusive evidence' to rule out a Cheslin Kolbe South Africa try, which ensured a two-score lead.

Lowe's try would have levelled the contest at 13-13, and handed fly-half Jack Crowley a conversion for the lead, while Kolbe's effort moments later came as a result of Lowe keeping a Handre Pollard penalty kick to touch in-field - though replays suggested he was in touch while playing the ball.

A third TMO call then also went against Ireland as No 8 Caelan Doris was denied a try due to lack of evidence on replays.

Conor Murray raced in for a second Ireland try with five minutes to go, but a late South Africa penalty try via a ferocious scrum drive confirmed victory, with Ryan Baird striking a third for Ireland but with time all but up.

Less than three minutes in, South Africa struck the opening try as skipper Siya Kolisi set fleet-footed wing Kurt-Lee Arendse away quickly, who then scorched into space and past debutant Jamie Osborne to touch down.

South Africa No 8 Kwagga Smith knocked on the restart into touch, handing Ireland a lineout attack in the 22. When awarded a penalty, the visitors turned down the chance to kick for points in favour of a five-metre tap attack, but it proved the wrong call and a big chance missed when lock Joe McCarthy knocked on a poor Peter O'Mahony pass by the try-line.

On 13 minutes, a strong Robbie Henshaw carry forced South Africa to infringe at the breakdown. This time, Crowley struck over from 40 metres to get Ireland onto the board.

Five metres later, Pollard restored South Africa's seven-point lead with a penalty of his own after McCarthy was trapped in a ruck.

A big Crowley mistake followed, kicking out on the full after the ball was passed back into the Irish 22 and handing South Africa a lineout. In the ensuing attack, Porter was harshly penalised at the breakdown, and Pollard increased the SA lead to 10 points.

Past the half-hour, South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi was penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck, but Crowley shockingly missed the resulting penalty wide.

Five minutes before the end of the half, Ireland struck for a try, however with stunning Dan Sheehan and Lowe offloads working the ball inside to Osborne and seeing the full-back dive for the line - Lowe's effort to remain in play particularly impressive.

Crowley hooked the tough conversion wide, but Pollard soon missed too after South Africa were awarded a penalty to increase their lead.

Six minutes into the second half, Pollard produced a second poor miss off the tee, but replacement hooker Malcolm Marx won a breakdown penalty to stop Ireland's next attack.

Just shy of the hour mark, Ireland then seemingly scored a try to level the game through Lowe up the touchline, only for TMO Whitehouse to come in and advise a review.

While hooker Ronan Kelleher had hooked the ball back with his foot legally, TMO Whitehouse argued he was already off his feet when he did so as opposed to doing so while falling. Referee Luke Pearce agreed and chalked off the score.

With 16 minutes to go came Kolbe's controversial effort, with Lowe seeming to have a foot in touch while playing the ball back in-field. TMO Whitehouse said there was not enough evidence, though, and the try stood.

Pollard nailed the conversion for 20-8, with Ireland then roaring back and attacking hard. Repeat penalties saw Arendse sin-binned, but Ireland were denied a try when Doris dived for the line.

Murray scored before long after a lovely move, but another Lowe error - spilling the restart dead - handed South Africa a five-metre scrum, which sprinted forward to decide the game.

Ireland did land one more punch through Baird, as he collected Lowe's offload, but with seconds remaining they couldn't force another attack.

www.skysports.com

South Africa 27-20 Ireland: Crucial TMO decisions fall Springboks way for summer series victory

Two crucial TMO decisions fell South Africa's way as they defeated Ireland 27-20 at Loftus Versfeld in the first of their two-Test series, live on Sky Sports.
www.skysports.com
 
Two France players arrested over sexual assault claims

Two France international rugby players have been arrested in Argentina following allegations of sexual assault.

Oscar Jegou, 21, and Hugo Auradou, 20, were detained in Buenos Aires on Monday and will be transported to Mendoza, where local reports claim the crime allegedly took place against a woman.

France are on a tour of South America.

France's squad stayed in Mendoza on Saturday night following their 28-13 Test win against Argentina, during which the two players both made their international debuts.

"If the facts are proven, they are incredibly serious,” French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill told journalists.

"We will reserve the results of the investigation."

Martin Ahumada, a spokesperson for the Mendoza prosecutor's office, told the AFP news agency that a commission was travelling to Buenos Aires to carry out "investigative actions" and that "if the results match the victim's testimony, the indictment will be issued".

Jegou, who plays back row for French club La Rochelle and Auradou, a lock for club side Pau, were both part of France's U20 World Championship-winning team in 2023.

BBC Sport has contacted the French Rugby Federation for comment.

The arrests come two days after full-back Melvyn Jaminet was suspended by the federation after he posted a video on social media with a racist comment.

Jaminet, who plays for Toulon, put the video on his Instagram account after playing in the victory against Argentina.

Although Jaminet deleted the video, it was widely shared on social media and the 25-year-old was sent home from the tour.

Jaminet said he was "deeply sorry and ashamed of my comments".

France play Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday before returning to Buenos Aires for a second Test against Argentina.

BBC
 
Webb banned for four years by French Anti-Doping Agency

Former Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb has been banned for four years by the French Anti-Doping Agency.

Webb was suspended soon after joining second tier French side Biarritz last summer after returning a positive test for human growth hormone (HGH) during a training session.

Both A and B samples came back positive.

Webb will now be ineligible to play until 2027, meaning he will be 38 by the time the ban runs it course.

Biarritz have been asked to comment.

Webb won 40 caps for Wales before announcing his international retirement in the build-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.



BBC
 
Baxter to make first England start in Auckland

Harlequins prop Fin Baxter will make his first England start against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

The 22-year-old replaces the injured Joe Marler in the only change to England's starting XV which lost the first Test 16-15.

Baxter made his international debut as a first-half replacement for his Quins team-mate in Dunedin, with Marler subsequently ruled out of the second and final Test in Auckland because of a foot injury.

Sale's Bevan Rodd is added to the bench in the only other change to the matchday squad, as England bid to become the first side to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1994.

BBC
 
French rugby players charged with raping woman in Argentina

Two French international rugby players have been charged with the aggravated rape of a woman following a match in Argentina, prosecutors in the South American country say.

Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, are accused of raping a 39-year-old woman after France beat Argentina on Saturday.

She alleges that they raped her multiple times and beat her in a hotel room in the city of Mendoza.

The pair, who chose "not to testify" at a hearing in the city, say they had consensual sex with the woman and deny rape. They will remain in custody while authorities investigate further.


www.bbc.com

France rugby players charged with raping woman in Argentina

The rugby players, who deny rape, are accused of attacking a woman in a hotel room after an international match.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Van der Merwe equals Scotland record in win over USA

Scotland made it two wins from two on their summer tour with a comfortable victory over USA in Washington DC.

Duhan van der Merwe opened the scoring for Gregor Townsend's side with his 27th international try, equalling Stuart Hogg's Scottish record.

Hooker Ewan Ashman then took centre stage, scoring a first-half hat-trick at the back of a dominant Scotland maul, while Tommaso Boni capitalised on Matt Fagerson's error for the hosts' only try.

Further tries from George Horne and Matt Fagerson in the second half took Scotland past the 40-point mark and helped them build on last week's comprehensive win over Canada.

The Scots now head for South America, where they play two further Tests against Chile (20 July) and Uruguay (27 July).

Townsend made 15 changes to the side that crushed Canada last time out, recalling the more experienced members of his squad, as he looked to avoid a repeat of the 2018 loss to the US in Houston.

The opening six minutes saw Scotland stamp their authority on the contest, as they dominated both territory and possession before breaching the US defence.

BBC
 
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