Rugby

Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auFeb 7, 2024, 11:25 PM 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 7, 2024, 11:46 AM Open Extended Reactions England fullback Freddie Steward has urged his teammates to give fans at Twickenham reasons to be loud and proud again in Saturday’s Six Nations match against Wales after players were booed off in previous home games that ended in defeat. England have lost four of their last

Feb 6, 2024, 01:02 PM Open Extended Reactions Rassie Erasmus will coach champions South Africa to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery added to the technical team as defence coach and ex-New Zealand flyhalf Tony Brown signed to sharpen the attack. Erasmus returns as head coach after four years, a

Feb 5, 2024, 10:19 AM Open Extended Reactions The Six Nations began last Friday with Ireland‘s stunning victory over France in Marseille where the hosts struggled in the absence of their star scrum-half Antoine Dupont. Saturday saw England eventually overcome Italy after as Steve Borthwick’s team recovered from a slow start to find their groove

Feb 4, 2024, 06:25 PM Former Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Barry John has died aged 79, his family said on Sunday. “Barry John died peacefully today at the University Hospital of Wales surrounded by his loving wife and four children,” a family statement said. John made his Wales debut in 1966, making

Feb 3, 2024, 08:16 PM Open Extended Reactions Scotland players were left bitterly disappointed after their epic 27-26 victory over Wales on Saturday, with coach Gregor Townsend admitting their decision making was poor. Scotland led 27-0 after 45 minutes and were cruising to what seemed like it would be a record victory, but let Wales

Feb 1, 2024, 09:42 AM Duhan van der Merwe scored two tries as Scotland claimed a dramatic first win in Cardiff for 22 years after withstanding a remarkable fightback from Wales to seal a 27-26 victory on Saturday. Pierre Schoeman also crossed for a try for the visitors who led 27-0 early in the second

Feb 1, 2024, 09:40 AM England recovered from a slow start to begin their Six Nations campaign with a win over Italy in Rome. Getty England recovered from a scruffy start and a 17-8 deficit to beat Italy 27-24 in their opening Six Nations game in Rome on Saturday, ending a run of four successive opening

Feb 1, 2024, 03:56 PM Open Extended Reactions The 2024 Six Nations gets underway this weekend and Wales will begin their campaign against Scotland on Saturday without the experience of George North, who misses out with a shoulder injury. The winger is the most capped member in Wales’ 34-man squad and the game against Scotland

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 1, 2024, 09:27 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 Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony is one of five new captains at this year’s Six Nations. Photo by Damien

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterFeb 1, 2024, 02:00 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 England have named uncapped Fraser Dingwall and Ethan Roots in their starting team for Saturday’s Six

Feb 1, 2024, 03:58 AM Open Extended Reactions The All Blacks will play 14 Tests in Scott Robertson’s first season in charge, including a match against Fiji in southern California. The Fiji clash in San Diego on July 19 comes a week after the All Blacks wrap up a two-Test series against England at Eden

Jan 31, 2024, 12:22 PM Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith has been ruled out of the opening game against Italy. Paul Harding/Getty Images The 2024 Six Nations gets underway this weekend and England are facing an early injury crisis after Marcus Smith was ruled out, with Owen Farrell unavailable due to a “health break” and George

Jan 31, 2024, 03:56 PM Open Extended Reactions Jack Crowley will make his first Six Nations start against France on Friday night. Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images The 2024 Six Nations gets underway this weekend and holders Ireland will have a new look at fly-half with Jack Crowley named at No. 10 to fill the void

Jan 30, 2024, 09:34 AM Open Extended Reactions Marcus Smith is in doubt for England’s Six Nations opener against Italy. Photo by David Ramos – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images England fly-half Marcus Smith limped off during a training session on Monday and could be sidelined for this weekend’s Six Nations opener against Italy With

Jan 27, 2024, 11:35 AM Open Extended Reactions South Africa‘s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been admitted to hospital after a freak accident left him with chemical burns, but he is expected to be back at work next month, officials confirmed on Saturday. Erasmus, who has masterminded back-to-back Rugby World Cup wins for the

Jan 23, 2024, 10:14 AM Open Extended Reactions Twickenham was vandalised with red paint and “Free Gaza” spray-painted on the walls on Tuesday morning after a protest against a military vehicles event being held at the stadium. Protestors gathered outside the home of English rugby on Monday and shouted “RFU is covered in Palestinian blood”

AAP with ESPN staff Jan 23, 2024, 03:07 AM Open Extended Reactions The Wallabies are in good hands with new coach Joe Schmidt, All Blacks mentor Scott Robertson says, and he’s expecting Australia to bounce back for the annual Bledisloe Cup battle. Both nations have replaced their coach since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with