A new tournament starts in Australia on Friday. Called World Series Rugby, it will involve matches played by Western Force in Perth, which was dropped as one of the country’s super rugby sides at the end of last season, against the three Pacific islands, Hong Kong, the Rebels and the Crusaders. It was devised by…
Month: March 2019
Dan Carter rolls back years while Pro14 dominance leaves England on outside
Racing is not a word associated with Dan Carter’s running style, which is more a languid glide as he assesses his options with defenders wrong-footed, but his cameo from the bench at Clermont Auvergne on Sunday took Racing 92 into a semi-final with Munster in Bordeaux. Racing were trailing 17-16 when the fly-half, who moved to…
Sale’s Denny Solomona charged with ‘homophobic’ abuse of Worcester player
Denny Solomona has been charged by the Rugby Football Union after allegedly aiming homophobic abuse at a Worcester player during an incident in Sale’s victory over the Warriors last weekend. Worcester’s fly-half, Jamie Shillcock, can be heard making a complaint of homophobic abuse by a Sale player, soon after a scuffle with Solomona in the…
RFU’s Steve Brown defends £195 tickets for England v All Blacks at Twickenham
Top-priced seats at Twickenham for England’s blockbuster fixture against New Zealand in November will cost £195 apiece when they go on sale this week, with the Rugby Football Union dismissing any prospect of a Test revenue-sharing agreement with less‑wealthy visiting nations. Steve Brown, the RFU’s chief executive, says the “heavy” top-range tickets are comparable with…
England 15-24 Ireland: how the Six Nations players at Twickenham rated
England Anthony Watson 5 A miserable two weeks, that yellow card in Paris followed by an unlucky part in Ringrose’s try before he was carried off. Jonny May 6 Came more into the game after the break with some straight running into the heart of the Irish defence and scored a well-taken late consolation try….
England women focused on Ireland but ready for France to deliver bad news
England are bracing themselves for a bittersweet evening in Coventry on Friday. For while Sarah Hunter’s side should overcome an Ireland team smarting from a home defeat by Scotland, it is likely they will learn after the match at the Ricoh Arena that France have secured their fifth grand slam. France’s 18-17 win over England…
World Rugby ditches match official after ‘oversight’ of attending England training
Marius van der Westhuizen has been replaced as an assistant referee for England’s Six Nations finale against Ireland on Saturday with World Rugby accepting it made “an oversight” by allowing the South African to join an England training session this week. Van der Westhuizen, who has been replaced by Nigel Owens, attended England’s base on…
Wasps’ James Haskell ready to take pay cut to extend England career
Click:Glass candle container James Haskell said he will happily take a pay cut to extend his England career as far as the 2019 World Cup, insisting that he considers the reward on offer in Japan a more lucrative proposition than a bumper contract overseas. Haskell will leave Wasps after 12 years across two spells in…
Brad Shields asks for New Zealand release in order to play for England
Brad Shields has made an official request to be released by New Zealand Rugby for England’s tour of South Africa in an attempt to smooth a path towards making his debut for Eddie Jones’s side in June. The NZR chief executive, Steve Tew, confirmed that Shields had made the request and that the union is…
Garry Ringrose the centre of attention as Ireland name side to face Scotland
Garry Ringrose will become the third player to wear Ireland’s No 13 shirt in this season’s Six Nations after being named for Saturday’s meeting with Scotland at the Aviva Stadium. The 23-year-old has shaken off ankle trouble suffered in January, and his return helps ease the losses of Robbie Henshaw, Chris Farrell and Jared Payne. Henshaw…