4:49 AM BST Queensland Reds are back at home after a two-week tour of South Africa, followed by a bye, for the visit of the unpredictable Sunwolves. But the weekend’s action kicks off in Christchurch earlier Friday, the seemingly unstoppable Crusaders welcoming the Sharks. Saturday’s action is headlined by two trans-Tasman clashes, firstly in Wellington
Rugby
12:58 AM BST Rugby Australia could be facing a Polynesian player mutiny after one of the Wallabies’ most exciting prospects claimed all Pacific Islanders “might as well just be sacked” because of their religious beliefs. In an explosive development days out from Israel Folau’s attempt to save his multimillion-dollar career at an RA code of
11:06 PM BST All Blacks captain-in-waiting Sam Whitelock has signed a long-term deal with the world champions in a momentous deal for New Zealand Rugby. Crusaders lock Whitelock added four years to his contract, committing himself through to the 2023 World Cup in France. The 30-year-old is regarded as the man most likely to take
1:01 PM BST France international Mathieu Bastareaud will become the biggest name to play in the United States when he joins Rugby United New York on a season-long loan deal next season. Bastareaud will leave Top14 side Toulon to play in Major League Rugby after this year’s World Cup, before returning to the French side
12:32 PM BST Wales have called up uncapped players Rhys Carre and Owen Lane to their 42-man training squad in preparation for this year’s World Cup. A total of 36 players from the Six Nations Grand Slam winning team have been named in the training squad. Back-row forwards Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi and Aaron Shingler
4:07 AM BST All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick will miss at least another three weeks of Super Rugby as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury, Chiefs coach Colin Cooper said Tuesday. The former World Player of the Year has been sidelined since tearing ligaments in his wrist during the win over the Blues
1:09 PM BST Waratahs lock Jed Holloway has been suspended for three weeks after pleading guilty to elbowing Sharks’ prop Thomas du Toit in the head. He was sent off in the 45th minute of Saturday’s 23-15 Super Rugby loss at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium. 1 Related The ban means Holloway will miss the Waratahs’ two
12:00 PM BST Leinster coach John Fogarty will join the Ireland coaching staff after the 2019 World Cup, the club confirmed Monday. Fogarty will assume the role of Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) National Academy forwards coach from July. 1. The 41-year-old will replace Greg Leek who intends to leave the position to coach Japanese
2:47 PM BST Former France scrum half Fabien Galthie will replace Jacques Brunel as the country’s head coach after this year’s Rugby World Cup, French Rugby Federation chief Bernard Laporte has said. Galthie played 64 times for France, captaining the side to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2002 and at the 2003 World Cup.
After the first three games of Round 11 followed the form guide, the closing trio were always going to be tough to call. They were won by the Sharks, Stormers and Jaguares with the biggest margin being the eight points by which the Durban-based outfit edged NSW on their first outing at Bankwest Stadium. Defeats