Rugby

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auJun 21, 2024, 02:03 AM Close Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Open Extended Reactions

Jun 19, 2024, 01:02 PM Open Extended Reactions Rugby world champions South Africa have named uncapped Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing in a much-changed squad to face Wales in a one-off Test at Twickenham on Saturday. Hendrikse, 22, has been preferred to World Cup winner Manie Libbok in

Jun 18, 2024, 05:16 PM Open Extended Reactions Jamison Gibson-Park misses Ireland’s South Africa tour with a hamstring injury. Getty Ireland will take 35 players to South Africa for their two-Test series next month but first-choice scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been ruled out due to injury, Irish Rugby said on Tuesday. Peter O’Mahony will captain the

Jun 18, 2024, 01:27 PM Open Extended Reactions Dewi Lake will captain Wales against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, with scrum-half Ellis Bevan to make his test debut in the clash, coach Warren Gatland announced on Tuesday. Hooker Lake takes over the captaincy from Dayfdd Jenkins, who led the side in the Six Nations

Jun 18, 2024, 08:47 AM Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith will start at fly-half for England ahead of namesake Fin Smith as coach Steve Borthwick made four enforced changes for their first Test of the summer series in Japan on Saturday. With Owen Farrell and George Ford unavailable, Marcus Smith has been handed the No.

Open Extended Reactions Highlanders and Maori All Blacks back Connor Garden-Bachop has died after suffering a medical event on Monday, New Zealand Rugby has announced. Garden-Bachop, the son of former All Blacks back Stephen Bachop and late Black Ferns player Sue Garden-Bachop, was 25. “On behalf of the entire rugby community, the Highlanders, Wellington Rugby,

Jun 17, 2024, 02:22 PM Open Extended Reactions James Botham has 10 international caps for wales. Photo by Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images Wales have added versatile flanker James Botham to their squad for their one-off Test against South Africa in London on Saturday, officials have confirmed. The 26-year-old grandson of former England cricket

Jun 14, 2024, 06:18 PM Open Extended Reactions Northampton Saints won the Premiership title in 2023-24. David Rogers/Getty Images English rugby will restore promotion and relegation between the top-flight Premiership and second-tier Championship via a two-legged playoff, England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Friday. Saracens were relegated in the 2019-20 season when they finished bottom

Jun 12, 2024, 03:04 PM Open Extended Reactions The Scotland Rugby team are preparing for four matches in America starting in July. Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images Scotland have named their 37-man squad for their four Tests in the Americas starting next month which includes 10 uncapped players, coach Gregor Townsend said on Wednesday. Forwards Gregor

Jun 10, 2024, 12:57 PM Open Extended Reactions Steve Borthwick has selected a blend of youth and experience for England’s summer fixtures. David Rogers/Getty Images Steve Borthwick has included six uncapped players in his England squad for the Summer Series matches against Japan and New Zealand, it was announced on Monday. Fin Baxter, Gabriel Oghre, Joe

Jun 9, 2024, 01:01 PM Open Extended Reactions England fly-half George Ford will miss the upcoming summer tour of Japan and New Zealand to recover from an achilles injury, the RFU confirmed on Sunday. Ford helped club side Sale Sharks to reach the Premiership Rugby semifinals, where they were knocked out by Bath, who lost

Jun 8, 2024, 03:11 PM Wembley Stadium remembered Rob Burrow on Saturday as the Challenge Cup final between Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors was delayed until seven minutes past three, as a tribute to the No.7 he played with on his jersey for Leeds Rhinos. Burrow died on Sunday aged 41 after he was diagnosed

Jun 3, 2024, 03:08 PM Open Extended Reactions Wales coach Warren Gatland offered his resignation following a disappointing Six Nations campaign. Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images Wales coach Warren Gatland named four uncapped players on Monday in a squad of 36 for tests against world champions South Africa and Australia over the next six weeks.

Jun 3, 2024, 06:19 PM Open Extended Reactions Saracens back Elliot Daly will miss England’s three test matches in Japan and New Zealand to be with his wife as she prepares to have their first child, the RFU said on Monday. Coach Steve Borthwick has named a 33-player training squad to continue preparations for the

Jun 3, 2024, 08:10 AM Open Extended Reactions Kevin Sinfield has led the tributes to his “dear friend” and former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow who died on Sunday at the age of 41. Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019 and subsequently dedicated himself to raising awareness of the condition and

Jun 2, 2024, 06:16 PM Open Extended Reactions Rugby League legend Rob Burrow has died at the age of 41, following a long battle with motor neurone disease (MND), his former club Leeds Rhinos said on Sunday. Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and subsequently dedicated himself to raising awareness of the disease, as

Jun 1, 2024, 09:54 AM Open Extended Reactions Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell has played his last game for the side after their 22-20 defeat to Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby semifinals on Friday. Farrell will depart for French Top 14 club Racing 92 next season, while Billy and Mako Vunipola are also set to

May 30, 2024, 06:12 AM Open Extended Reactions A legal battle looms between Rugby Australia and the consortium who planned to save the Melbourne Rebels, with the Super Rugby Pacific club to be shut down after 14 seasons. Five months after the Rebels entered voluntary administration, Rugby Australia broke the news before players boarded a