Risk of injury real concern before final squads named
With less than three weeks to go before the 2019 Rugby World Cup coaches name their final squads, and 41 days before the tournament kicks off in Tokyo, it is a nervous time for players. While warm-up games — and there are plenty this weekend ...
Rugby World Cup fever set to bring masses to Japan
The 2019 Rugby World Cup has been dubbed by organizers as a "once-in-a-lifetime" event. And for many of the more than 400,000 foreigners expected to travel here, it will be their one and only chance to visit Japan. Fans who are used to weekend jaunts ...
World Rugby says controversial shake-up could earn billions for game
World Rugby has defended its controversial Nations Championship concept, saying the proposed annual global tournament could earn the sport £5 billion ($6.6 billion) in 12 years. Rugby chiefs want to launch a new cross-hemisphere contest in 2022, in which the winners of the Six Nations ...
Scotland on form looked like it would only be a pothole on Wales' road to Six Nations glory. The thing about potholes, though, is they can be bigger than expected. Wales was cruising by halftime at Murrayfield on Saturday, with a 15-6 lead that wasn't as ...
A ruthless England side beat Australia 44-40 in a thrilling rollercoaster of a third test on Saturday to inflict a first 3-0 home series sweep on the Wallabies since 1971. Tries from prop Dan Cole, fullback Mike Brown, No. 8 Billy Vunipola and replacement hooker ...
Six Nations champion England completed its first Grand Slam in 13 years after beating France 31-21 in an error-strewn finale on Saturday. England, handed the title last weekend after France lost to Scotland, scored three tries to none but kept giving away kickable penalties to ...
England moved within sight of the Six Nations title and a first Grand Slam since 2003 by beating Wales 25-21 on Saturday, thanks to a punishing first-half display and flawless goalkicking from Owen Farrell. Farrell kicked six penalties and converted Anthony Watson's 32nd-minute try at ...
The last time New Zealand's defending Rugby World Cup champion All Blacks team played in the U.S., the game was a record-setting sellout. It also was a blowout, as the storied All Blacks routed the USA Eagles national squad 74-6 before 61,500 people — the ...
Wales got its Six Nations title ambitions back on track in an entertaining ninth straight win over Scotland by 27-23 on Saturday. Wales scored the first of its three tries quickly, but lost the lead for nearly 50 minutes as Scotland showed the gumption it ...
Paul O'Connell has been forced to retire from rugby due to injury before having the chance to end a glittering career with European champion Toulon, the former Ireland captain said on Tuesday. O'Connell, whose retirement from international rugby came sooner than he had hoped when ...
Jones victorious in first Six Nations match as England coach
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was resounding around an otherwise muted Murrayfield when England drove Scotland back in the scrum for a penalty, one final indignity for the beaten boys in blue. There was still time for England No. 8 Billy Vunipola to make another punishing ...
France beat Italy 29-0 in a turgid, error-strewn match in the Six Nations on Sunday, with little at stake for either side apart from pride. Yoann Maestri scored the opening try at the start of the second half after a fantastic break from Scott Spedding, ...
