Rugby Union

Still only 19, the Londoner, who can play as a blindside flanker or second row, has started eight of Racing’s 11 league games, establishing himself as a first choice in a squad that also features France pair Cameron Woki and Romain Taofifenua, along with Wales’ Will Rowlands. “At the start …

With Herring and Tom Stewart out injured, young hooker James McCormick has been given a chance and he scored a try in the hammering against Toulouse. Herring has been impressed with the performances of the 22-year-old and believes there is good competition for places developing at hooker. “I’ve been watching …

An England XV will host a France XV in an uncapped match at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, 21 June. The game will act as a warm-up for England’s three-Test summer tour of Argentina and the United States, while France are scheduled to play a three-match series in New Zealand. Players …

Northampton Saints are ready for the physical challenge of playing at altitude after leaving the English winter behind for their latest European Champions Cup game. Saints will take on South African side Bulls in Pretoria, having made a winning start to the competition by beating French side Castres 38-8 last …

Northampton Saints have signed hooker Henry Walker from Championship club Ealing Trailfinders. The 26-year-old will join immediately to provide additional cover following the long-term injury suffered by Robbie Smith earlier this season. Walker came through Gloucester’s academy and made 72 first-team appearances before moving to Ealing in the summer of …

A body has been found in the search for former England rugby international Tom Voyce, who went missing in an area flooded during Storm Darragh. Police feared the 43-year-old had died after trying to cross Abberwick Ford, near Bolton, Northumberland, in a vehicle which was then pulled along by the …

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, R du Preez, James, O’Flaherty; Ford, Warr; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Harper, Bamber, Hill, JL du Preez, B Curry (capt), D du Preez. Replacements: McElroy, McIntyre, John, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, Nayacalevu, Wills. Racing 92: Tedder, Arundell, James, Chavancy, Spring; Lancaster, Le Garrec; Gogichashvili, Chat, Sordoni, Kpoku, Rowlands, Woki (capt), …

After coming through the Bath academy set-up, Spencer made his senior debut in 2013. Spencer moved to Worcester in 2016, where his 30 appearances across two seasons earned him an international call into England’s squad for a training camp in 2017. He then switched to Leicester in 2018 where he …

Since Moore’s exit, the signing of Ilona Maher to Bristol Bears has attracted new interest in the league. In December the PWR announced a new partnership with Canterbury to provide three pairs of boots a season to 450 of the league’s players. PWR is also preparing for the 2025-26 season, …

England fly-half Marcus Smith has signed a new “long-term” contract with Harlequins. The 25-year-old, who has 41 international caps and has scored 284 points for his country, started all four of the autumn internationals. Smith has made 166 appearances for Harlequins and was part of the 2020-21 Premiership-winning squad. “I …

Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins is set to return to action for the first time since July after recovering from shoulder surgery. The 22-year-old lock has not played since Wales’ summer tour to Australia, but is fit to feature in Exeter Chiefs’ Champions Cup game with Toulouse on Sunday. Jenkins missed …

Former Exeter and England centre Ollie Devoto has said he knew he was “not done” with playing, ahead of joining Major League Rugby side Chicago Hounds in the new year. The 31-year-old made 127 appearances for the Chiefs during an eight-year spell with his hometown club before leaving in the …

Ford also had to contend with boos from a section of the Twickenham crowd when it appeared he was going to again replace Smith against Australia, with head coach Steve Borthwick instead moving Smith to full-back. “When you are representing your country and you’ve done it for a long time, …

Clauses to allow Cornish Pirates players to leave the club at the end of December have been lifted. The clauses were inserted in contracts signed over the summer after concerns over the ongoing funding of the club. Cash from owner Dicky Evans runs out at the end of the year, …

Chris and Ashy preview round two of the Champions Cup and we hear from George Ford. Source link

Pollard, who helped South Africa to 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, has been with Tigers since 2022. He joined the club from French side Montpellier just months after Leicester won the latest of their 11 Premiership titles. Pollard has featured 37 times across all competitions for Tigers so far, …

In September the 10 top-flight clubs reached a new agreement with the RFU in which funding of £33m a year will be split between them, and a promotion play-off being played between the bottom side in the Premiership and the Championship champions. But there is yet to be any agreement …

Simmons, who played at scrum-half, wing and full-back, made his Tigers debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Gloucester in November 2017, with his first tries coming in the same competition against Wasps the following February. He signed a new contract in March in the hope of resuming fitness. Tigers general …

A tourist with the British and Irish Lions in 2021, Van der Merwe is in his second spell with Edinburgh having returned in 2022 following the collapse of Worcester Warriors, where he spent two years. He has scored 45 tries in 98 appearances for Edinburgh having initially signed from Montpellier …

The rugby community has express its support for Mr Voyce’s family. His wife Anna and family expressed their gratitude for all the help and support from police, friends and the local community. Mr Voyce was capped nine times for England from 2001 until 2006 and played for Wasps, Bath and …