Rugby

Jul 2, 2022 The All Blacks weathered Irish storms at the start of each half but responded with six tries to open their 2022 season with a hardfought 42-19 victory in Auckland on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Ardie Savea scored either side of halftime — his first in a

1:30 PM BST Ireland coach Andy Farrell has held out hope Johnny Sexton will be available to face New Zealand on Saturday in Dunedin after the fly-half passed the second of three concussion tests following his removal from their loss against the All Blacks. Sexton left the game in the 31st minute after a collision

5:31 AM BST Cameron Spencer/Getty Images The Wallabies have overcome injury and ill-discipline to pull off a famous 30-28 victory over England in Perth and snap an eight-game losing streak. The Australians were forced to play a man down for more than half the match on Saturday night after lock Darcy Swain was marched for

AUSAUSENGENG AUS No. Name 15 Tom Banks, FB 14 Andrew Kellaway, W 13 Len Ikitau, C 12 Samu Kerevi, C 11 Marika Koroibete, W 10 Noah Lolesio, FH 9 Nic White, SH 1 Angus Bell, P 2 Dave Porecki, H 3 Allan Alaalatoa, P 4 Darcy Swain, L 5 Cadeyrn Neville, L 6 Rob Leota,

Jun 28, 2022 The two rugby hemispheres come back together this year July, with several massive series taking place across the globe. Can Ireland win a first Test on New Zealand soil? Will Australia at last end this losing run to England? Can a struggling Wales spring an upset in South Africa? It really is

6:38 AM BST Liam Napier What a wild week for the All Blacks. Just when you thought COVID’s far-reaching effects on major sports events had largely dissipated, the All Blacks opening Test week against Ireland moved from one deflection to the next. First All Blacks head coach Ian Foster, chief assistant John Plumtree and Crusaders

6:32 AM BST Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has sprung a selection shock for the first Test against England, with 33-year-old Brumbies lock Cadeyrn Neville to make his Test debut at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday night. Neville will be the third oldest Wallaby debutant since World War II at the age of 33 years

1:16 AM BST ESPN staff Leicester Fainga’anuku will make his Test debut on the left wing against Ireland as All Blacks coach Ian Foster named all three Barrett brothers in the run-on side to face Ireland. Foster has preferred Beauden Barrett over Richie Mo’unga, while brothers Jordie and Scott start at fullback and blindside breakaway

Jun 29, 2022 Sam Bruce Close ESPN Associate Editor Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPNscrum after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Tom Hamilton Close Senior

Jun 27, 2022 Spain’s appeal against their disqualification from next year’s Rugby World Cup has been dismissed, World Rugby announced on Monday. Spain were disqualified from the tournament in France for fielding an ineligible player during the 2021-22 Rugby Europe Championship. “The Independent Appeal Committee reviewed the original decision of the Independent Judicial Committee based