3:03 AM BST ESPN staff The three-match Bledisloe Cup has been thrown into uncertainty with the shutdown of the trans-Tasman travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday announced an eight-week pause on the travel bubble as New South Wales struggles to manage a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.
Rugby
1:05 AM BST It took three attempts, but the Wallabies have their first piece of silverware under coach Dave Rennie. The Trophée des Bicentenaires will stay in Australia’s keeping until at least the end of next year following the Wallabies dramatic 33-30 win in Brisbane last week, which secured a 2-1 series win over a
9:58 AM BST Alun Wyn Jones has been named as captain for the British & Irish Lions’ first test against South Africa, it was announced on Wednesday. Jones returned to the squad last week having recovered from a dislocated shoulder he sustained in the Lions first warm up match against Japan on June 26. This
12:00 PM BST South Africa centre Damian de Allende has said he went into “a bit of a shock” after he was burned in a fire pit accident last month and is lucky to play again following his selection for Saturday’s opening test against the British & Irish Lions. De Allende and Springbok lock RG
12:41 AM BST Liam Napier By the end of July, after three Tests against Pacific Island opposition, the All Blacks projected widespread satisfaction with their start to the season. All Blacks coach Ian Foster rotated all but one of his 36-man squad – 21-year-old Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i not used – to build depth and
8:35 PM BST All three tests between world champions South Africa and the British & Irish Lions will be played in Cape Town, officials confirmed on Tuesday, wary that the risks associated of a return to the altitude of the Highveld are too great. The second and third tests in the series were due to
1:43 PM BST South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and winger Makazole Mapimpi have been named in the starting line-up for the first test against the British & Irish Lions after recovering from COVID-19. Kolisi, Mapimpi and prop Ox Nche were the last group of players to report for duty at the Springbok camp in Cape
11:33 AM BST The British and Irish Lions coaching staff held a “robust” selection meeting on Sunday, but defence coach Steve Tandy said there are decisions still to be made ahead of the first test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday. With fly-half Finn Russell set to miss the series opener due to
3:02 AM BST As the Wallabies prepare to fight Marika Koroibete’s high tackle charge at a judiciary hearing, fly-half Noah Lolesio has opened up on the game plan that allowed Australia to run down France and the penalty that secured the 2-1 series win, describing the latter as a “dead duck”. The Wallabies got back
1:40 PM BST South Africa have received a significant boost ahead of the first test against the British & Irish Lions after hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni, as well as loose forward Dan du Preez, returned to training on Sunday. The trio had been in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, but have now