10:23 AM GMT ESPN staff South Africa will play Japan in a final Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture two weeks before facing the New Zealand All Blacks in their opening fixture of the global showpiece in Yokohama. The fixture will be played on Friday, Sep. 6 at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Saitama, north of Tokyo.
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5:11 AM GMT Michael Cheika will remain as Wallabies coach through to the Rugby World Cup but he will have a new boss after Scott Johnson was unveiled as Rugby Australia’s new Director of Rugby. In what looks a good move for the longer-term health of Australian rugby, Johnson will oversee a new National High
Dec 17, 2018 Scott Johnson has been appointed Director of Rugby to oversee coach Michael Cheika, as part of a restructure aimed at boosting the struggling Wallabies going into the 2019 World Cup. Cheika will report to Johnson, who will return home in mid-March after a decade working in the USA and Europe, most recently
Dec 17, 2018 Greg GrowdenESPN Rugby Close After more than 30 years with The Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media in Australia, Greg Growden now writes exclusively online for ESPN. Never afraid to step on toes, you can expect plenty of compelling insight from one of Australia’s most renowned writers. Sure, it was one small
9:51 PM GMT The All Blacks career of exciting winger Nehe Milner-Skudder is all but over after he signed a three-year French club rugby deal. Toulon has confirmed the 27-year-old’s contract will join them in June next year before their Top 14 campaign, ruling him out of Rugby World Cup contention. The decision has been
4:56 AM GMT Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is far more than the breakdancing, surfer dude that he’s portrayed as and is ready to step into the All Blacks role, according to former Ireland fly-half Ronan O’Gara. New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said earlier on Friday that he would step down following next year’s Rugby World
11:31 PM GMT The decision has been made. Steve Hansen’s eight-year tenure as All Blacks coach will come to an end after next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, where New Zealand will be chasing an unprecedented third straight triumph. The first piece in the All Blacks coaching jumble has moved, making Steve Hansen’s looming
9:01 PM GMT The incomparable reign of Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach will finish after next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. Hansen has announced next year will be his eighth and last in charge of the world champions, ending with what he hopes is the successful defence of the Webb Ellis Cup. The
11:56 PM GMT Accomplished All Blacks outside back Ben Smith will leave New Zealand to play rugby in France after next year’s Rugby World Cup. The classy 76-Test wing/fullback has signed to play for French Top 14 club Pau, which has contracted numerous former New Zealand Test players in recent years and is coached by
6:30 AM GMT ESPN staff Champion back-rower David Pocock is backing under fire Wallabies coach Michael Cheika but says he has concerns of a different kind over his own neck. Pocock, who won two Rugby Union Players’ Association awards on Wednesday, offered his support for Cheika as Rugby Australia continues a review of the Wallabies’