2:54 AM BST All eyes have been on Israel Folau for the past two weeks after his controversial Instagram post. Stood down last Friday, the Waratahs will take to the field without the star fullback for the first time since his post went public and with the Australian Conference lead on the line, there’ll be
Rugby
12:39 PM BST Warren Whiteley resumes the captaincy of the Lions having been recalled after injury to face the Chiefs in FMG Stadium in Waikato on Friday. Whiteley returns after missing seven weeks having sustained a pectoralis major muscle tear in the match against the Stormers in Cape Town. He joined the Lions’ touring squad
4:54 AM BST http://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_/id/26521226/israel-folau-prepared-exit-rugby-legal-fightVeteran halfback Nick Phipps has praised rugby bosses for acting quickly over the Israel Folau furore, admitting its been a distraction for the NSW Waratahs at a crucial time. Wallabies and Waratahs fullback Folau has been stood down and facing the sack after copping a breach notice from Rugby Australia over his
6:57 PM BST Saracens have ‘formally warned’ England No. 8 Billy Vunipola over his social media activity after defending Israel Folau’s social media posts claiming “hell awaits” homosexuals. Vunipola was booed when he came off the bench for Saracens against Bristol in the Premiership at the weekend after liking Folau’s posts before defending the Australian’s
12:55 PM BST Branco du Preez has played in more matches for South Africa’s Sevens team than any other player, but the Blitzboks playmaker experienced a completely new feeling in winning the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens on Sunday. Du Preez, who tied the all-time appearance record for South Africa in the HSBC World Rugby
8:49 AM BST AAP with ESPN staff Fallen Wallabies star Israel Folau has 48 hours to request a Rugby Australia [RA] Code of Conduct hearing, after he was on Monday issued with a breach notice for the social media comments he made last week. Rugby Australia deemed those comments, which have thrown the game into
2:19 AM BST 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
1:36 PM BST South Africa produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Fiji in the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens, overcoming a 19-0 halftime deficit to win the Cup final 20-19. Aminiasi Tuimaba, Napolioni Bolaca and Vilimoni Botitu scored tries for Fiji in the first half, two of which were converted by Bolaca, and the Islanders
3:15 PM BST Wales prop Rob Evans will miss the rest of the Scarlets’ season after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder. Evans — who was part of the Wales squad that won a Six Nations Grand Slam in March — will miss Saturday’s Pro14 match against Zebre, the Judgement Day game with Dragons and
3:02 PM BST The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will hold talks with England’s Billy Vunipola after he publicly supported Australian Israel Folau over his controversial social media comments. Wallabies star Folau posted anti-gay comments on his Instagram on Wednesday and declared that “hell awaits” homosexuals as well as drunks, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and