Rugby

10:46 AM BST South Africa have included uncapped flyhalves Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in their squad for next month’s autumn international series, and electric winger Cheslin Kolbe returns after recovering from injury. The Springboks will play four Tests, starting against Ireland in Dublin on Nov. 5, followed by matches on consecutive Saturdays against France,

12:51 AM BST The Wallabies begin their spring tour against Scotland in Edinburgh this weekend, in a Test that falls outside World Rugby’s official window. That has resulted in notable omissions for both sides, although the hosts have been harder hit with only their Scotland-based players available for the Murrayfield clash. Still, Gregor Townsend’s side

5:17 AM BST Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Stephen Perofeta have been named in the All Blacks’ starting 15 for the first time in a much-changed line-up for the Test against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday. Tuivasa-Sheck will start at inside centre alongside Braydon Ennor, with Perofeta starting at fullback in Ian Foster’s team. Halfback Finlay Christie

3:51 AM BST ESPN staff New Zealand Rugby [NZR] has acknowledged a scheduling blunder that will see the Black Ferns’ World Cup quarterfinal clash with the opening match of the All Blacks’ spring tour. NZR has come in for heavy criticism this week for the error, which will see the All Blacks’ Test against Japan

1:12 PM BST Italy lock Sara Tounesi has been suspended for 12 matches for biting a player from Japan at the women’s Rugby World Cup, meaning she miss Saturday’s quarterfinal against France. Tounesi was cited for biting an unnamed opponent during Italy’s 21-8 win on Sunday. The tournament’s judicial committee upheld the citing complaint, World

8:12 PM BST Wallabies veteran Michael Hooper has no immediate desire to reclaim the captaincy on Australia’s spring tour, admitting he was not “completely cured” of some of the mindset issues that saw him withdraw from the Rugby Championship before its opening whistle. Hooper is poised to play his first Test since the Wallabies 2-1

2:09 PM BST England skipper Owen Farrell has withdrawn from the squad that is travelling to Jersey for their training camp ahead of the November internationals as he continues to recover from a concussion, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Monday. Farrell was knocked unconscious during Saracens’ Premiership victory over Exeter Chiefs on Saturday

11:51 AM BST World champions South Africa will take on New Zealand in a Test at Twickenham on the eve of next year’s World Cup, SA Rugby announced on Monday. The clash on Friday, Aug. 25 will come a fortnight before the tournament kicks off in France, and is only the second time the two

8:17 AM BST England will face world No. 1 side Ireland in Dublin next summer as they prepare for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced on Wednesday. England will play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Aug. 19 after a double-header against Wales — facing them in Cardiff on Aug.

4:58 PM BST Fly-half Finn Russell has been omitted from Scotland’s squad for November’s autumn internationals and Stuart Hogg stripped of the captaincy as flanker Jamie Ritchie was named to lead the team in Tests against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina. Russell, once seen as a talisman for the team, was left out as