Washington DC will host a team in Major League Rugby “no later” than 2020, it was announced on Tuesday. The city has previously been linked to plans for a US-based Pro14 team. ‘A very monumental occasion’: NOLA down Houston in Major League Rugby MLR features seven professional rugby union teams from western and southern states…
Month: March 2019
Joe Launchbury backs Danny Cipriani to make a big impact for England
The series may be lost but England’s final tour stop in South Africa has particular resonance for Eddie Jones. It was here, in the shadow of Table Mountain, that the Rugby Football Union approached him to become England’s coach at the end of 2015, making his return to the Cape with a squad battling to…
Firefighters and cops face off as New York’s pro rugby team debuts
On Saturday night at Gaelic Park in the Bronx, New York’s first professional rugby union team played its first game in the city. Houston? No problem – SaberCats bullish about latest US rugby venture Rugby United New York [RUNY] draws players from two senior clubs, New York Athletic Club and Old Blue, and others throughout…
Jones’s new attack coach charged with increasing England’s try count
Having cast his eye over England’s Six Nations woes, the new attack coach, Scott Wisemantel, is in no doubt as to the task that awaits under Eddie Jones. In Wisemantel’s words, to go from fifth in the Six Nations to a first series win in South Africa would be a “Cinderella story”. Rags to riches…
Joe Launchbury set to return as England fight to keep South Africa series alive
England’s efforts to mount a series comeback against South Africa have been boosted by the return of a fit-again Joe Launchbury. The Wasps lock has recovered from a sore calf and is set to feature in a reshuffled pack for Saturday’s second Test in Bloemfontein. Launchbury will be a valuable addition for a game England…
England’s Eddie Jones pleased with progress on his second anniversary
Eddie Jones has a vivid recollection of the buildup to his first game as England coach against Scotland in Edinburgh. Two years on, before Saturday’s Calcutta Cup reunion, he has been replaying the video footage to his squad this week and says it still sends a shiver down his spine. “After the first training run…
Israel Folau loses appeal over one-match World Rugby ban
Wallabies ace Israel Folau will miss the NSW Waratahs’ crucial Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels on Friday night after he failed to have his one-match ban overturned on appeal. Folau fronted a high-stakes appeal hearing on Thursday night after he was banned from one match by a World Rugby judiciary panel on Wednesday…
Scotland’s Gregor Townsend joins condemnation of Jones’ tormentors
Gregor Townsend has condemned the verbal abuse handed out to Eddie Jones after England’s Calcutta Cup defeat. The Australian was jostled and taunted by a group of Scots as he arrived in Manchester by train the day after his side’s 25-13 defeat at Murrayfield. He had travelled alone to be a guest of Sir Alex…
Premiership roundup: Joe Simmonds sends Exeter top after late comeback
Joe Simmonds converted Thomas Waldrom’s last-minute try to cap a dramatic comeback from Exeter, who rallied from 13 points down to edge out Northampton 31-30 at Sandy Park. The Chiefs were staring at a fourth consecutive league defeat when they trailed 30-17 with 10 minutes remaining but Don Armand and then Waldrom touched down. Simmonds…
Johnny Sexton returns to Ireland’s starting side against Australia
The selection of Johnny Sexton by the British & Irish Lions for the second Test against New Zealand last year marked a turning point in the series and Ireland are looking for the fly‑half to make a similar impact against Australia in Melbourne after the 18-9 defeat last Saturday. Wallabies stick with winning formula for…