Rugby

Liam Napier Feb 28, 2024, 10:49 PM Open Extended Reactions Dedicated and intensely driven, incoming Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt doesn’t do half measures. Daniel Halangahu, the former Waratahs playmaker turned Blues assistant coach, knew of Schmidt’s standing long before he joined the Auckland franchise for a one-off stint two years ago. As Schmidt prepared to

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 26, 2024, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith had been absent due to a calf injury. Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images England

Feb 1, 2024, 10:39 AM Italy were denied a first away win against France in almost three decades and a first in the Six Nations as Paolo Garbisi’s last-gasp penalty hit the post in a 13-13 stalemate on Sunday. Garbisi almost ran out of time to kick the penalty after the 80th minute, before watching

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 24, 2024, 07:40 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions EDINBURGH, Scotland — England must be sick of the sight of Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe.

Feb 1, 2024, 10:28 AM Duhan van der Merwe powered Scotland to a historic win over England on Saturday. Getty Duhan van der Merwe scored a superb hat trick as Scotland beat England 30-21 at Murrayfield on Saturday to claim a fourth successive championship win in the fixture for the first time since 1896. England, seeking

Feb 1, 2024, 09:55 AM Ireland comfortably overcame Wales to extend their unbeaten run in this year’s Six Nations. Getty Grand slam-chasing Ireland made it three bonus-point Six Nations wins from three against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, racking up their 18th successive home win in the process with a 31-7 victory. The hosts

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 23, 2024, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions EDINBURGH, Scotland — Jamie George has said England are happy being the underdogs heading into Saturday’s

Feb 23, 2024, 05:34 PM Open Extended Reactions Former England flanker Courtney Lawes will leave Northampton and join France second-tier side CA Brive at the end of the season. Lawes, 35, retired from international duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France after earning 105 caps for his country. He has played over 270

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 22, 2024, 10:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions EDINBURGH, Scotland — When head coach Steve Borthwick offered Jamie George the chance to become England

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 22, 2024, 03:06 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions England have made five changes for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Murrayfield in the

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auFeb 21, 2024, 04:31 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

Feb 21, 2024, 10:55 AM Open Extended Reactions Wales will meet world champions South Africa in a one-off Test at neutral Twickenham on June 22. The match will be South Africa’s first fixture since the return of Rassie Erasmus as head coach following their Rugby World Cup triumph in France last year. Warren Gatland’s side

Feb 19, 2024, 03:33 PM Open Extended Reactions Sam Costelow started in Wales’ narrow defeat to Scotland. (Photo by Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images After a weekend off following the first two sets of fixtures, the Six Nations returns on Saturday with Ireland seeming in all-conquering form, England unbeaten and Wales still looking for

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 20, 2024, 10:31 AM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions The Rugby Football Union (RFU) evaluated the possibility of selling Twickenham and offering to buy 50%

Feb 19, 2024, 10:10 AM Open Extended Reactions Alex Mitchell will miss the next Six Nations clash with a knee injury. Dan Mullan – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland due to a knee injury, with Harry Randall coming in as

Liam Napier Feb 18, 2024, 09:28 PM Open Extended Reactions Revered and resented, the Crusaders are one of the most successful teams in modern sport. This season, though, they face the greatest test of their Super Rugby dominance. Super Rugby could be accused of being predictable. Australian teams, other than the Brumbies, have offered minimal

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 14, 2024, 12:29 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Manu Tuilagi makes his return from a groin injury that he picked up in December last

Brittany Mitchell, ESPN Assistant EditorFeb 14, 2024, 02:20 AM Close Brittany Mitchell has been a sports fan from an early age, with a keen interest in netball, cricket and rugby. Brittany interned at Rugby Magazine and the Australian Rugby Union before joining ESPN. Open Extended Reactions AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Melbourne Rebels captain Rob Leota