9:50 AM BST Saracens have said they are innocent of breaching Premiership Rugby’s salary cap rules after an investigation into some of their players’ investments was opened. Premiership Rugby is looking into business deals between high-profile players and club owner Nigel Wray, which may have constituted a violation of the £7 million limit clubs can
Rugby
12:08 PM BST ESPN staff Wallabies star Israel Folau is once again embroiled in a social media scandal after the fullback took to both Instagram and Twitter with anti-LGBTI+ views on Wednesday. In what has become a semi-regular occurrence for the Wallabies and Waratahs player, Folau, 30, shared anti-gay sentiments in a scathing post to
9:30 PM BST They were deemed surplus to requirements four years ago, but Nic White and Will Skelton have very much been a part of the Wallabies’ World Cup discussions this time around. The England-based duo have been in excellent form of late, prompting a recent visit from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to gauge their
2:25 AM BST Japan captain Michael Leitch has accused some top tier nations of wanting to keep high level rugby to themselves after the Sunwolves, Japan’s representatives in Super Rugby, were told they would be cut from the elite competition after the 2020 season. The decision by organiser SANZAAR to revert to a purely southern
12:36 PM BST Glasgow Warriors coach Dave Rennie has signed a contract extension with the Scottish club, closing off the option to become the next Australia head coach. The former Chiefs boss has committed to a further year with the Warriors which will see him remain until at least June 2020 Rugby Australia is working
11:47 AM BST Melbourne centre Billy Meakes has escaped suspension for foul play in the Rebels’ Super Rugby win over the Sunwolves last Saturday night. Meakes had to answer via video conference to the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee following a second-half tackle on Sunwolves centre Jason Emery. The Wallabies hopeful wasn’t penalised for the
3:55 AM BST Sam Cane has been cleared to return to contact training after breaking a bone in his neck and received another boost when he was invited to a one-day All Blacks camp, suggesting the flanker is still in coach Steve Hansen’s Rugby World Cup thoughts. Cane had to have an operation in South
2:46 PM BST Andy Withers Close ESPN Senior Editor Andy loves all sport, in particular football, rugby and horse racing. He supported Leicester City through the bad days, and played rugby without being able to keep Tigers, England and Lions legend Martin Johnson out of the first XV. Susan Ninan South Africa’s Super Rugby sides
1:34 PM BST Rugby Australia is working on other options if the mooted world league doesn’t go ahead, with a more meaningful Rugby Championship on the SANZAAR agenda. The exact format for the mooted 12-team Nations Championship tournament, which would be played in all non-World Cup years, is still to be thrashed out. Players have
3:00 AM BST Brittany Mitchell Close ESPN Assistant Editor Brittany Mitchell has been a sports fan from an early age, with a keen interest in netball, cricket and rugby. Brittany interned at Rugby Magazine and the Australian Rugby Union before joining ESPN. Andy Withers Close ESPN Senior Editor Andy loves all sport, in particular football,