8:10 AM GMT CAPE TOWN – English Premiership side Sale Sharks announced the capture of Springboks flyhalf Robert du Preez and hooker Akker van der Merwe on Tuesday, taking advantage of the rule change that allows South African players to go overseas and remain eligible for the national team. It comes just days after Springbok
Rugby
2:42 AM GMT Craig Dowd Close Craig Dowd played 60 Tests for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, including in two World Cups, and he was part of the All Blacks team that won their first series in South Africa in 1996. He played for the Blues and Auckland in New Zealand domestic rugby, and
3:42 PM GMT Wales lock Cory Hill has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations with an ankle injury, the Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed. The forward scored a crucial try in his side’s 21-13 win over England last Saturday, but was replaced a few minutes later. He will miss Wales’ fixtures
7:00 AM GMT The Lions’ Super Rugby campaign has been dealt a significant blow with the news that stalwart captain Warren Whiteley has been ruled out for six to eight weeks, after injuring a pectoral muscle against the Stormers on the weekend. The Springboks loose forward sustained the injury to his left pectoral in the
1:44 AM GMT Queensland flyer Jordan Petaia set tongues wagging after an eye-catching display in Queensland’s Super Rugby opener, but his usually understated coach may have just provided the biggest compliment yet. A last-minute injury stopped the 18-year-old becoming the third-youngest Wallabies player of all time last November when he was ruled out of the
8:22 PM GMT James Harrington What a difference a fortnight can make. France only had one representative in the ESPN Fantasy Rugby team of the week 14 days ago, but after that bonus-point win over an injury-hit and generally poor Scotland on Saturday, they have four in this week’s select XV. Ireland, too, despite a
12:02 PM ET ESPN staff Ireland had to come from behind in the second half in Rome as the reigning Six Nations champions were given a scare by Italy. Ireland had scored at least 56 points against Italy in each of their last three Six Nations encounters, and it seemed as though it could be
9:07 PM GMT England lock Courtney Lawes has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations after suffering a calf strain against Wales Saturday. Lawes had to be helped off the field in the closing stages of England’s 21-13 defeat in Cardiff and is expected to be out of action for at least
3:14 PM GMT England maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Six Nations Championship and kept their Grand Slam hopes alive with a dominant 51-12 victory over Wales in Cardiff on Sunday. The vein-popping celebrations of captain Alun Wyn Jones marked a historic moment for Warren Gatland’s side, who will return to earth for one
8:50 PM GMT CARDIFF, Wales — Leave aside verdicts over just how great this Wales side is for now, until Grand Slam deciders and Rugby World Cup knockout games, and for one night, revel in this epic Test match and performance from Warren Gatland’s team. England co-captain Dylan Hartley is set to have knee surgery