Rugby Union
The top 14 signings ahead of the new Top 14 season
Big budgets mean big signings, and the recruitment strategy of France's elite clubs has certainly delivered on that front ahead of the 2017/2018 Top 14 season, which kicks off on August 26.<p>With Clermont heading into the new campaign as defending champions, leading rivals Montpellier and Toulon have …
Sport (UK)England’s pack out to bulldoze France in battle for World Cup final place
England select strongest side to date for Belfast semi-final Sarah Hunter says rugby team determined to emulate cricketers<p>Sarah Hunter is determined to end a golden summer of women’s sport for England the way it began after revealing how watching the cricketers seal World Cup success two months …
Sport (UK)Welsh rugby's winners and losers as forgotten Welshmen remind us of their talent
All four Welsh regions were in action on the weekend as the clock ticks down to the start of the Guinness PRO14 season.<p>The Scarlets and Cardiff Blues …
Welsh RugbyRight boxes are being ticked by the Boks
2017-08-21 16:34<p>Coenie Oosthuizen (Getty)<p>Port Elizabeth - The televised evidence from Sydney earlier in the day should have provided a reality check …
South Africa SpringboksAustralian rugby looks dysfunctional and delusional – is there any hope left?
The Wallabies plumbed new depths in their record defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday night , but a new high performance model may offer a glimmer of hope<p>Quo vadis rugby union? Where on earth is the game going in this country? Just when you thought things could not get any worse, they did on …
Sport (UK)Saracens to be without Billy Vunipola for start of Premiership season
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall will be without Billy Vunipola for the start of the Premiership season but has no intention of rushing his British and Irish Lions contingent back into domestic action.<p>After being named in Warren Gatland’s initial squad, Vunipola pulled out of the Lions’ tour …
Sport (UK)Joe Marler: 'I learned how to drink on British and Irish Lions' New Zealand rugby tour'
England prop Joe Marler says the Lions' midweek players "learned how to drink'' in New Zealand.<p>England prop Joe Marler says he learned "how to drink" …
British and Irish LionsBoks leapfrog Wallabies in latest rankings
2017-08-21 14:59<p>Allister Coetzee (Gallo Images)<p>Cape Town - Following their <b>37-15</b> Rugby Championship win over Argentina, the <b>Springboks</b> have moved up …
Argentine RugbyGermany coach thrilled by potential Flood switch
3:01 PM BST<p>The German Rugby Federation (DRV) will explore the possibility of having former England fly-half Toby Flood play for their national side …
Rugby World CupBREAKING: Jarryd Hayne named captain-coach of Gold Coast Titans
The world of rugby league is in shock after reports confirmed Jarryd Hayne is set to take an unprecedented role at the Gold Coast Titans.<p>Soon after …
Sport (Australia)Sir Colin Meads obituary
All Blacks captain with a reputation as one of the hardest, most uncompromising players in rugby union<p>Few sportsmen or sportswomen have so defined their country as did Colin Meads, the former New Zealand rugby captain, who has died at the age of 81. A man uncomfortable with fame, he early in his …
Sport (UK)England must stand up to a fast French start and justify their tag as World Cup favourites
Time for the real England to stand up<p>I believe England have been holding something back for the knockout stages of this competition and I think we will see what they are really made of on Tuesday. Simon Middleton named three completely different sides for each of the Pool matches, but that was to …
Rugby World CupGrey stonewalls calls for Wallabies defensive overhaul
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia assistant coach Nathan Grey has dismissed any need to review the team's defence playbook amid calls for him to be sacked in the wake of their 54-34 thrashing by New Zealand in the Rugby Championship opener on Saturday.<p>The Wallabies shipped eight tries to trail 54-6 …
Super RugbyUlster bring in Australia fly half Lealifano as short term cover for Jackson
Ulster have signed Australia fly-half Christian Lealiifano on a five-month deal as cover for Paddy Jackson.<p>Lealiifano has made a full recovery since …
News (Ireland)Scoreboard 'shouldn't matter' as All Blacks make no excuses for second half implosion against Wallabies
Rugby<p>Scoreboard 'shouldn't matter' as All Blacks make no excuses for second half implosion against Wallabies<p>Source:<p>All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock says …
New Zealand All BlacksCeltic target Rivaldo Coetzee called up to South Africa squad for World Cup clashes with Cape Verde
Stuart Baxter includes the defender in Bafana Bafana squad as 20-year-old gets set to head to Glasgow to seal £750,000 move to Parkhead.<p>Rivaldo …
Sport (UK)Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks leave Wallabies within gasp of extinction, writes Wynne Gray
GETTING players sharp between the ears is the highwire mission in Test rugby.<p>For all the hours they spend in the gym on the training field and under …
Sport (Australia)Billy Root and Luke Fletcher: Nottinghamshire pair sign new contracts
<b>Billy Root, the younger brother of England captain Joe, has signed his first professional contract, agreeing a two-year deal with Nottinghamshire.</b><p>Root, 25, made his Notts debut in 2016 and his breakthrough came this season when he made 107 from 93 balls against Warwickshire in the One-Day …
Same plan for Australia but better execution wanted
Larkham said they hadn't wanted to start the series the way they did but they were realists and there were a number of things they could work on but …
New ZealandSuper Rugby | Off-field culture at Springboks has been central to success in 2017 - Lewis column
The off-field culture taking shape at the Springboks has been central to their reversal in fortunes at the start of this season, writes <b>CRAIG …
Super RugbyHinds: Australia's rugby failings show no sign of stopping
Amid the funereal gloom of Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Saturday night in the final stages of the All Blacks' ritual humiliation of the Wallabies, a …
Australian NewsWallabies wary of All Blacks' attacking depth and need to make better start
The Wallabies have acknowledged Ryan Crotty as "an integral part" of the All Blacks' backline strategies and are wary of New Zealand's burgeoning …
New Zealand RugbyWallabies defence coach Nathan Grey believes he is the right man to fix team's problems
<b>Christchurch:</b> Wallabies defence coach Nathan Grey has taken responsibility for Australia's inept showing on the weekend, saying it "stings" knowing …
Australian News5 talking points: Boks v Argentina
2017-08-21 08:00<p>Elton Jantjies (Gallo Images)<p>Cape Town - Sport24’s <b>Herman Mostert</b> highlights <b>FIVE</b> talking points following the Springboks’ 37-15 Rugby …
News (South Africa)Ireland make three changes ahead of World Cup clash with Australia
There has been three changes to the Irish rugby team set to face Australia in Belfast tomorrow, writes <i>Ciara Phelan.</i><p>Cliodhna Moloney, Louise Galvin …
News (Ireland)2017 Walker Cup: GB&I Preview, Roster, Player Capsules
As predicted by Golfweek, five Englishmen will spearhead Great Britain & Ireland’s attempt to try to successfully defend the Walker Cup.<p>Harry Ellis, …
GolfWomen's Rugby World Cup: England's Thompson fit to play in semi-final v France
<b>Lydia Thompson will start on the wing for England in their Rugby World Cup semi-final with France on Tuesday, after recovering from a knee injury that saw her miss the win over the USA in the final pool match.</b><p>England's most-capped player, prop Rochelle Clark, will start from the bench with …
Women's Rugby World CupFormer England flyhalf Toby Flood considering throwing his lot in with Germany
The 32-year-old won the last of his 60 caps in 2013 and effectively made himself unavailable for international selection when he joined French outfit …
News (Ireland)Ospreys' show of faith in Steve Tandy is extraordinary but they don't do bulls**t and have their reasons
There is a page on the Ospreys website devoted to explaining the organisation’s vision. Nothing contained in it suggests anyone at the Liberty …
It’s not all doom and gloom: Nathan Grey sees positives despite Bledisloe drubbing
AS the wounded Wallabies returned to the training paddock on Monday, a couple of bursts of sunshine broke through an otherwise cloudy and chilly …
Sport (Australia)