10:28 AM BST Ireland international Bundee Aki has apologised for ‘liking’ a controversial social media post from Australian star Israel Folau. Folau, 30, declared on his Instagram account that “hell awaits” homosexuals, drunks, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters. Aki liked the post at the time but he has now taken to Twitter to
Rugby
9:45 AM BST Lions coach Swys de Bruin expects to return to his job “soon” after leaving the team’s Super Rugby tour of Australasia with a stress-related illness. De Bruin returned to South Africa on the advice of Lions team doctor Rob Collins, and missed last weekend’s 23-17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs, as well
4:15 AM BST Kurtley Beale worries about Israel Folau’s mental health but says the NSW Waratahs and Wallabies must move on. A state and Australia teammate of Folau’s since 2013, Beale can empathise with the dual international’s plight having himself taken on – and won – an employment battle with Rugby Australia five years ago.
2:24 AM BST Star Crusaders five-eighth Richie Mo’unga has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby on a three-year deal in a major coup for the All Blacks. One of the rising playmakers of world rugby, the 24-year-old has shunned serious offshore interest to remain in Christchurch until at least 2022. Mo’unga’s main impact until now has
1:38 PM BST England international Anthony Watson is set to return to action after a 13-month absence, his club Bath have announced. Watson, 25, has been selected in the starting XV at full-back to face Sale Sharks on Friday in the Gallagher Premiership. The back has not featured for club or country since rupturing his
11:35 AM BST English Premiership side Sale Sharks have signed South Africa lock Lood de Jager on a three-year deal, the first of a number of Springbok players set to move to European clubs after the World Cup in Japan. De Jager, 26, will leave Pretoria-based Super Rugby side the Bulls either at the start
10:07 AM BST The Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed five anti-doping violations within both the professional and community game were discovered out of more than 800 tests conducted across all levels of rugby in England in the 2017-18 season. The programme carried out 739 tests within the professional game while 99 tests were conducted at
Apr 26, 2019 Sam Bruce Close ESPN Associate Editor Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPNscrum after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Andy Withers Close ESPN
7:20 AM BST Scott Johnson says he knows first-hand the importance of inclusiveness in rugby, explaining why Rugby Australia [RA] has his full support in their employment battle with Israel Folau. RA’s director of rugby Johnson revealed the role he played when former Wales fullback Gareth Thomas struggled with his sexuality 13 years ago, cementing
2:51 AM BST Japan need to find a replacement for competing in Super Rugby following Sunwolves’ expulsion if they are to become a major rugby power, former Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones has said. The Sunwolves, Japan’s representatives in Super Rugby, were told by the competition’s governing body SANZAAR in March that they would be