Rugby Union

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 …

The plans for Sixways include the expansion of the north stand to increase the stadium’s capacity, a multi-storey car park, an events centre, six padel courts and a new corporate hospitality offering, including a 120-bed hotel. “I think a big part of what makes our model work is the ability …

Soper believes the quick turnaround after playing on Sunday means that Ulster can ill afford to dwell on the loss, but they must also try and rectify some mistakes made in France. It is another difficult test at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday as they welcome a Bordeaux side second in …

Bath are top of the Premiership, as it stands, having won five of their opening six games. However they were narrowly beaten 24-20 in torrential conditions against two-times Champions Cup winners La Rochelle at the Rec last weekend in their opening European game. Prop Archie Griffin suffered a shoulder injury …

Heyes earned the last of his seven full international caps in November 2022, but was called up and toured with England during the summer. After being left out of the Test matches against Japan and New Zealand, the prop said the England coaching team left him with a lot to …

Stem cells can help repair damaged bodily tissue, although it is a relatively new form of treatment. Sanderson expects Curry to be back available around Christmas, and says he sought input from England head coach Steve Borthwick when mapping out how to manage the player for the rest of the …

A court in Argentina has dismissed charges of aggravated rape against France rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, the players’ lawyers say. The pair, both 21, were arrested two days after making their international debuts in France’s victory over Argentina in Mendoza in July. They were accused of raping …

Ulster’s Ben Carson and Stewart Moore are doubts for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup pool game with Bordeaux (15:15 GMT), but John Cooney could return. In a squad update on Tuesday, the club said full-back Moore and centre Carson, suffered soft tissue contusions as they were forced off in the first …

Former England wing Ben Cohen says he “chooses to forget” being part of the team’s 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph as a way of coping with life after elite sport. Cohen has suffered from financial difficulties, mental health issues and hearing loss since retiring and now resists being drawn into …

Wales women will play two Tests against their Australian counterparts during next year’s British and Irish Lions men’s tour. The Wallaroos will host Wales on Friday, 26 July in Brisbane. A week later, on the eve of the second Wallabies v Lions Test in Sydney, the women’s teams will face …

Ugo, Danny and Chris look back at the opening weekend of the Champions Cup. Source link

Ireland’s Josh van der Flier has been named the Autumn Nations player of the series. The 31-year-old Leinster back row started all four of Ireland’s November Tests, which included a defeat by New Zealand and wins over Argentina, Fiji and Australia. Van der Flier, the world player of the year …

Bristol Bears’ young squad will learn from their Champions Cup defeat to Leinster, says captain Fitz Harding. The Bears took the lead against the four-time European Cup winners in the match at Ashton Gate and held them 7-7 until 50 minutes, before New Zealand replacement Jordie Barrett scored the first …

Leicester are also in pool one with with defending champions Toulouse, South African side Sharks, fellow Premiership side Exeter and Ireland’s Ulster. They face Sharks, who beat Exeter 39-21 in their opening match, in their next on Saturday. Cheika, who took Leinster to the European title in 2009, says whatever …

The call from the Championship clubs comes after three former RFU chairmen called for Ilube, Sweeney and “the relevant RFU board members” to resign. Martyn Thomas, Graeme Cattermole and Brian Baister claimed “enormous and irreparable damage” had been done to the reputation of the RFU by the awarding of the …

After a day in the cold and rain, and a match that was over almost as soon as it started, the flight back to Belfast wasn’t exactly full of glee. But, as everyone was boarding, one supporter jovially proclaimed on the flight back, “Smile, it’s nearly Christmas!”. Now, it’s up …

BBC Sport looks at five things we learned from the opening round of the 2024-25 Investec Champions Cup. Source link