Rugby

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 27, 2023, 03:06 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions PARIS, France — After seven weeks of tries and tribulations and grand hopes of a new

Open Extended Reactions Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has again defended his non-selection of former captain Michael Hooper and veteran playmaker Quade Cooper, saying the duo was no longer “obsessed with winning” and that is why they were overlooked for Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign in France. Jones continues to be the subject of intense speculation

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 26, 2023, 08:44 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions PARIS, France — The All Blacks have made one change for the Rugby World Cup final

Oct 26, 2023, 03:23 PM Open Extended Reactions France captain Antoine Dupont is among four nominees for the World Rugby men’s player of the year along with Ireland centre Bundee Aki, South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth and New Zealand’s Ardie Sevea, officials announced on Thursday. The winner will be named in Paris on Sunday, the day

Oct 26, 2023, 08:30 AM South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has been cleared to play in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final, the sport’s governing body, World Rugby, said on Thursday, after insufficient evidence was found that he used discriminatory language towards England flanker Tom Curry. Mbonambi, the only specialist hooker in the South Africa squad

Oct 26, 2023, 08:07 AM Open Extended Reactions South Africa have named Handre Pollard and Faf de Klerk in the starting team for the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand and have opted for a 7-1 split on the bench. The bold selection call sees South Africa opt not to include a scrum-half on

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 25, 2023, 02:48 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Ben Youngs will play his final Test match for England on Friday in the Rugby World

Oct 25, 2023, 02:59 PM Open Extended Reactions Leigh Halfpenny has announced his retirement from international rugby with the Wales fullback set to play his last game for his country against the Barbarians next week, the 34-year-old said on Wednesday. Halfpenny has 101 caps for Wales since making his debut in 2008, and is the

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 25, 2023, 12:45 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions PARIS, France — Marcus Smith will start at fullback for England in the bronze medal match

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 24, 2023, 12:15 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions PARIS, France — The international rugby calendar from 2026 onwards has taken shape with a new