Rugby Union

Springboks don’t do sympathy. South Africa have an immediate and emotional connection to their own nation. On this trip to the northern hemisphere, the Boks have been granting interviews, signing shirts and coaching kids in a concerted PR push. But there are limits. And when talk turned to England, the …

Having had their 19-game winning streak in Dublin halted by the All Blacks a week before, Ireland would have sought a quick start to ease any pressure built through seven days of scrutiny. While they got just that through a pair of tries in the opening five minutes, the visitors …

Australia drop new centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the replacements bench for the Autumn Nations Series match against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday. Source link

Stafford McDowall is determined to make the most of his chance to lead Scotland against Portugal on Saturday, and says captaining his country is something that may never come along again. The Glasgow centre leads a much-changed Scottish team, with Tom Jordan the only survivor in the starting side from …

Harlequins scrum-half Will Porter has signed a new contract with the Premiership club. The news comes one day after Quins announced vice-captain Cadan Murley had also extended his deal at Twickenham Stoop. Porter, 25, joined Harlequins from Bristol Bears in 2023 and has made 28 appearances for the club, scoring …

Personnel might be part of that. Jones earned rave reviews in his early England days, with captain Jamie George lauding the “crazy energy” he was coaxing from their defence. But Jones didn’t have the endurance to match, handing in his notice after a little over seven months in post. Joe …

Thomas made his first Wales start against Australia in the summer series at fly-half. He is now wearing the 12 jersey, something he admits he is “pretty comfortable” in, given the familiarity of the backline. “I think I have played with Max (Llewellyn) plenty of times and then obviously Chicken …

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney was appointed permanently in January 2024 by chairman Richard Collier-Keywood and stated she would produce a new strategy in the first half of the year. A preliminary document was published in June with the promise of the overall document later in the year, but that …

England head coach Borthwick has made four changes from the side beaten by Australia in their last outing, including the reintroduction of full-back Freddie Steward and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet. George says both players are “frothing” at the prospect of facing South Africa. “They are ready to take their opportunity …

Ireland captain Caelan Doris admits the team has been given a “second chance” by head coach Andy Farrell after a flat performance in last week’s defeat by New Zealand. Farrell has made just one change for the Argentina game on Friday with Robbie Henshaw replacing Bundee Aki and the coach …

Four new laws aimed at making rugby union faster and more entertaining will be tested around the world from the start of next year. Kickers will only be allowed to take 60 seconds over a conversion, in line with the one-minute ‘shot clock’ that already exists for penalties. Elsewhere crooked …

Australian Brett Robinson has become the first World Rugby chair from the southern hemisphere after narrowly beating former France international Abdelatif Benazzi to the governing body’s top job. Ex-Wallabies flanker Robinson shaded a final-round run-off vote among World Rugby’s Council by 27 votes to 25, after Italy’s Andrea Rinaldo had …

Scotland’s Tom Jordan will leave Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season after agreeing a deal to join Bristol Bears. The 26-year-old was instrumental in Glasgow’s United Rugby Championship title win last season and has made an impressive step up to the Test arena this month. He made his …

Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and full-back Freddie Steward start for England against South Africa as head coach Steve Borthwick makes four changes to his starting XV. The Leicester pair have yet to feature in the Autumn Nations Series but come straight into the line-up in place of Ben Spencer and …

Prop Vilikesa ‘Billy’ Sela has signed a new deal with Bath. The 19-year-old is currently out for up to two months with a shoulder injury suffered during the Premiership Rugby Cup win against Bristol Bears last Saturday. Sela joined Bath’s academy in 2023 and made his first appearances in the …

World champions South Africa make 12 changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series match with England at Allianz Stadium. Source link

Rather than reflect upon history, the World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee is keen to see his side make it on Friday night. Ireland have won 13 of the 19 Tests played between the two sides, including all 10 in Dublin. “It’s not about me bringing the national team here. …

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Felipe Contepomi has done a “magnificent” job with Argentina ahead of Friday’s Test match in Dublin. Former Leinster fly-half Contepomi left his coaching role with the Irish province to join Michael Cheika’s Pumas backroom team. But having replaced the Australian following last year’s World …

Chris and Ashy bring you a bonus pod with Ellis Genge and Jerry Flannery. Source link

While Crowley has been given another chance after being withdrawn just before the hour mark against New Zealand, the uncapped Sam Prendergast is set to make his debut having replaced his Leinster team-mate Ciaran Frawley on the bench. Prendergast was one of the stars of Ireland’s Under-20s Six Nations Grand …