Rugby

4:50 PM BST South Africa A were handed a 17-14 defeat by the Bulls on Saturday as the majority of the Springbok’s fringe players got a much-needed run out but failed to impress before next weekend’s first test against the British & Irish Lions. First half tries from Aphelele Fassi and Wandisile Simelane had the

10:34 AM BST South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has cranked up the tension with the touring British & Irish Lions by going onto social media to question the tackling technique of Owen Farrell. Erasmus posted video clips of two tackles Farrell made in the Lions’ tour match on Wednesday, when they lost to

7:36 AM BST Samoa qualified for their ninth successive Rugby World Cup with a 79-28 aggregate victory over Tonga, winning the second leg of their Oceania playoff 37-15 in Hamilton on Saturday. The Samoans, who claimed the first leg 42-13 in Auckland last week, were challenged by the Tongans after dominating the first half but

4:35 PM BST Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has teamed up with the United Rugby Championship (URC), a new rugby competition featuring 16 teams from Wales, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and South Africa, it was announced on Wednesday. Roc Nation is a world-leading entertainment company founded by the rapper in 2008. With offices around the world, the business

9:23 PM BST With just days until the Australian women’s sevens team begin their gold medal defence, Charlotte Caslick has no doubt her team is ready for the tough road ahead, despite their lackluster results of late and the shock non-selection of star winger Ellia Green. Announcing the squad for the Tokyo Games just weeks

3:22 PM BST Fly-half Antoine Hastoy will make his debut when France face Australia in the series-deciding third test in Brisbane after coach Fabien Galthie made seven changes to his starting lineup on Thursday. Racing 92 winger Teddy Thomas, who did not feature in the first two tests, will replace Gabin Villiere in the team.

3:04 PM BST British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has accused South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus of “trying to wind us up” after he insinuated the tourists were scared to face South Africa ‘A’ again on Saturday. Erasmus, who is “good friends” with Gatland, has tried, unsuccessfully, to get a second clash

11:59 AM BST British & Irish Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones will start from the bench against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday after a remarkable return to the tour party following a dislocated shoulder. Jones had been ruled out of the tour after being injured in the 28-10 victory over Japan in

11:53 AM BST Tomos Williams has been recalled to the Wales starting XV as one of seven changes by coach Wayne Pivac for their international with Argentina in Cardiff on Saturday. The scrum-half impressed off the bench in last weekend’s 20-20 draw between the sides, and will form a half-back pairing with Cardiff teammate Jarrod

9:33 PM BST Wing Sbu Nkosi and centre Lukhanyo Am scored first-half tries as a strong South Africa ‘A’ side inflicted a first defeat of the tour on the British & Irish Lions with a 17-13 win in what was dubbed an unofficial ‘fourth test’ in Cape Town on Wednesday. Lions coach Warren Gatland had

1:30 PM BST British & Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones will return to the squad after making a remarkable recovery from dislocating his shoulder against Japan in June, coach Warren Gatland announced on Wednesday. Jones had been ruled out for the rest of the tour after sustaining the injury on June 26 but passed

5:59 AM BST Former Wallabies star Quade Cooper won’t be able to sidestep any citizen application requirements with Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews steadfast on the rejection. Cooper says his application for Australian citizenship has repeatedly been knocked back despite playing 70 Tests. Born in Auckland, Cooper moved to Australia with his family aged

2:09 PM BST France on Tuesday night dished out multiple Test rugby lessons to a Wallabies team that continues to learn things the hard way, paving the way for a thrilling finale to the series in Brisbane this weekend. Denied a drought-breaking win on Australian soil last week, the French were thoroughly deserving of their

12:32 PM BST Ireland will host New Zealand in one of four international tests announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union for Andy Farrell’s squad in October and November. The Irish will face the All Blacks at Aviva Stadium on Nov. 13 for the first time since losing to the New Zealanders in the quarterfinals