Rugby

3:13 AM BST SANZAAR has dished out 16 weeks’ worth of suspensions for the five red cards that were issued in Round 7 of Super Rugby Pacific, after Caleb Clarke was on Wednesday night handed a three-week ban for an incident that continues to divide opinion. The wider issue of foul play remains the hot

11:57 AM BST Ireland and Leinster flanker Dan Leavy announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 27 on Tuesday because of a long-term knee injury. Leavy was a pivotal member of the Ireland side that claimed the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam. He missed the following year’s tournament through injury before suffering knee

6:59 AM BST Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has set his sights on a Buddy Franklin-like charge of the SCG as Australia looks to end its long run of outs against Eddie Jones’ England, while coach Dave Rennie has flagged multiple positions where players can still stake a claim for a starting spot via Super Rugby

12:58 AM BST ESPN staff Perth has won the right to host the opening Test between the Wallabies and England, while the Wallaroos will commence their Rugby World Cup preparations with Tests against Japan and Fijiana in Queensland. Rugby Australia on Tuesday unveiled the fixtures for its opening Test series of 2022, with international rugby

5:51 AM BST World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin is confident both players and coaches will soon have adapted their behaviours amid the current foul play crackdown, sparing next year’s Rugby World Cup of repeated incidents of head contact and the red cards they produce. Attending government meetings in Australia this week, Gilpin was on hand

12:02 AM BST There have been plenty of talking points, on and off the field, in Australian rugby circles this week, with the game even getting some air time in the Federal Budget on Tuesday night. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed the Australian Government’s financial support for the 2027 World Cup bid, while the SANZAAR judiciary

12:17 AM BST There was no shortage of talking points across another busy weekend of Super Rugby Pacific, but sadly most of them were overshadowed by another busy weekend of high-tackle debate. Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has again raised the idea of an “orange card” after his team continued their unbeaten start to the season,

3:37 PM BST Prop Marlie Packer scored a hat trick of tries as England got their Six Nation’s title defence underway with a 57-5 victory against Scotland at Edinburgh’s DAM Health Stadium on Saturday. The result was the Red Roses’ 19th-straight win, breaking the record for most consecutive Test match wins, which was set by

4:31 PM BST France scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been named 2022 men’s Six Nations player of the championship after guiding his team to their first Grand Slam and Six Nations title since 2010, tournament organisers said on Friday. The 25-year-old was instrumental in the final as France held off England to clinch a 25-13 victory

12:44 AM BST The head of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has repeated his backing of Eddie Jones and his belief that England are making progress, but admitted the upbeat statement of support on Sunday should have shown more understanding of fans’ frustration. Echoing Jones’s positive comments after the defeat by France, their third of