dimanche 30 juillet 2017
samedi 29 juillet 2017
jeudi 27 juillet 2017
Warburton donates Lions kit to charity
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ESPN Staff
British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has donated kit from this summer's Lions tour and kit from his club Cardiff Blues to a charity shop in Cardiff.
Warburton, 28, started the second and third Tests in New Zealand as the Lions drew the series 1-1 with the All Blacks.
Warburton donated the kit to Tenovus Cancer Care, a charity which he is a patron of.
Warburton donates Lions kit to charityIt's that time of year again! Pop down to @tenovuscancer Rhiwbina for my @lionsofficial and @cardiff_blues kit! Ready from 4pm today!!😊👍🏉 http://pic.twitter.com/soePHXbe5J
— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) July 27, 2017
Williams ruled out of first Bledisloe Cup clash
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ESPN Staff
Sonny Bill Williams will miss the first Bledisloe Cup Test between Australia and New Zealand after World Rugby confirmed his ban would run until Aug. 20.
All Blacks centre Williams was sent off in his side's second Test defeat to the British & Irish Lions for a shoulder charge on Anthony Watson.
Earlier this month he was handed a four-week suspension, which equates in practice to four matches under World Rugby regulations.
The All Blacks had hoped to have Williams available again by Aug. 6 but the fourth match put forward, between Counties Manukau A and B a day previously, failed to meet criteria set by the global governing body.
World Rugby has also ruled that the All Blacks' pre-Rugby Championship warm-up on Aug. 11, that involves both Counties Manukau and Taranaki, did not qualify as it will be played over three periods of 40 minutes.
All of which means the Rugby Championship opener between New Zealand and the Wallabies on Aug. 19 will now count as the fourth and final game of the ban, with Williams not available for selection until the All Blacks host Australia in Dunedin a week later.
Williams ruled out of first Bledisloe Cup clashmercredi 26 juillet 2017
mardi 25 juillet 2017
lundi 24 juillet 2017
RFU clarifies pay in elite women's game
The Rugby Football Union has clarified how it pays elite women's players following reports England contracts will not be renewed after the forthcoming World Cup.
The governing body has confirmed contracts for the 15-a-side game will expire after next month's tournament in Ireland because the focus will shift to sevens.
But this was always the intention and the RFU believes it has been misrepresented by suggestions investment in 15s is being cut.
Since first introducing central contracts in 2014, the RFU has operated on a cyclical basis with emphasis alternating between the sevens and 15s programmes.
The first contracts issued were for sevens in the build-up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. After that 15s contracts were issued as preparations began for the 2017 World Cup. The next batch of contracts will be focused on the 2018 World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.
The 15 full-time players currently on 15s contracts have been aware since April the current cycle would end after the World Cup. An additional 17 players have been issued short-term contracts for the tournament.
RFU director of professional rugby Nigel Melville said: "The RFU has made a multi-million pound investment in women's rugby in the last three years and that investment increases year on year. Our record investment applies not just to the elite game but also to the community game.
"The women's game works in cycles between the 15s and sevens programmes and as a result next year there will be 17 professional, full-time fixed-term sevens contracts to prepare England to compete in the two big global tournaments on the horizon.
"Contracts will then revert to 15s contracts again to prepare for the next big global tournament -- the Women's Rugby World Cup."
PA Sport understands 10 of the current 15s squad are set to be retained as sevens players post-World Cup. England are the current World Cup holders and begin their title defence against Spain on August 9.
RFU clarifies pay in elite women's gamedimanche 23 juillet 2017
samedi 22 juillet 2017
Chiefs beat Stormers in Newlands thriller
The Stormers' Super Rugby playoff jinx continued as they slipped to a 17-11 defeat to the Chiefs in their quarterfinal played at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, to end another promising season on a low note.
The Chiefs were full value for their win as wing Shaun Stevenson scored their only try to go with four penalties from fullback Damian McKenzie.
The Stormers were right in the game to the end and missed the chance to take the lead with 10 minutes to go when fullback SP Marais put his penalty wide, but he did slot two shots at goal to go with a try for loose-forward Siya Kolisi.
It is a repeat win for the Chiefs from the quarterfinals last season, though the manner was quite different. Rather than the try-fest 12 months ago that finished 61-20 in their favour, this was a battle of attrition and strong defence from both sides.
It took 24 minutes for the first points to be scored and they went the way of the home side when Marais slotted a penalty.
But repeated errors from the Stormers allowed McKenzie to keep the scoreboard ticking, as he landed three penalties of his own to take the visitors into a 9-3 halftime lead.
The home side made the brighter start to the second period and after a fine kick to touch from Marais, Kolisi went over in the corner after the Chiefs held up the attempted driving maul.
Marais missed the conversion and McKenzie then extended the visitors' lead to four points after the Stormers were penalised for going offside.
Chiefs flank Sam Cane was sent to the sin-bin for a reckless tackle on Stormers wing Dillyn Leyds and that turned the momentum in the favour of the home side.
Marais cut the Chiefs lead to one point when he landed another penalty, but then missed the opportunity to give his side the lead when he put another, tougher, effort wide on the angle with 10 minutes remaining.
That piece of luck seemed to spur the Chiefs, who went up field and after battering the Stormers defensive line and sucking in defenders, spread the ball wide for Stevenson to canter in unopposed with his first touch of the ball after coming off the bench.
The Chiefs will now travel to Christchurch to face the Canterbury Crusaders in their semifinal next weekend, while the other last four clash sees the Lions at home to the Wellington Hurricanes.
Chiefs beat Stormers in Newlands thrillervendredi 21 juillet 2017
Highlanders grounded ahead of finals clash
The Highlanders Super Rugby team is having difficulty getting to Christchurch for their quarter-final match against the Crusaders on Saturday.
The team's flight from Dunedin Airport on Friday night was cancelled and part of State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Christchurch is closed due to surface flooding.
A state of emergency has been declared in Timaru, to the south of Christchurch.
Team manager Greg O'Brien said the Highlanders were talking to Air New Zealand.
The problem in Dunedin was wind, rather than flooding, he said.
Chances on changing the game to Dunedin? 😂 we got plenty of Speights and it's warm under the roof. http://pic.twitter.com/e38v3q3WdX
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) July 21, 2017
"We are hoping if the wind subsides we will get out," he said.
"We don't know yet."
Media report remaining flights out of Dunedin on Friday night are fully booked.
"Chances on changing the game to Dunedin? we got plenty of Speights and it's warm under the roof," Highlanders first five-eighth, Lima Sopoaga, tweeted.
Extreme weather is causing some disruption to flights, Dunedin Airport tweeted.
Highlanders grounded ahead of finals clashjeudi 20 juillet 2017
Doubts over Cheetahs' Currie Cup defence
The Free State Cheetahs will begin the defence of their domestic Currie Cup title this weekend as the South African provincial championship gets under way on Friday night.
But questions remain over just what sort of side the Cheetahs will be able to put out in the latter stages of the competition, with their participation in Celtic Rugby's PRO12, which gets under way in September, set to be rubber-stamped in the next week.
The same rings true for the Eastern Province Kings, though they are not in the Currie Cup's Premier Division this season and will instead contest the First Division with the minor provinces.
The decision of SA Rugby to return to a seven-team Premier Division from nine last year is aimed at raising the level of the competition by having more strength-vs-strength clashes.
And SA Rugby have also re-introduced relegation for the bottom-placed side in the Premier Division.
"Returning to a seven-team Premier Division format, with all teams facing each other home and away, will bring about a more intense, strength-versus-strength competition, and the fact that we've re-introduced a promotion challenge series between the winner of the First Division against the last-placed Premier Division team, will add to the excitement," SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said recently.
The Cheetahs begin their campaign at home to the Sharks on Friday under new coach Rory Duncan, who has swapped roles with Franco Smith as the latter takes up the position of Director of Rugby at the union.
After a tough Super Rugby season in which they largely disappointed, and with the prospect of an arduous campaign to come in Europe later in the year, Duncan might have sought to rest some players.
But he has gone in largely with a first team selection that is captained by centre Francois Venter.
Western Province, the most successful side in Currie Cup history with 33 tournament wins, have a bye through the first round of matches, leaving two other games to be played.
Kimberley-based Griquas will host the ailing Blue Bulls from Pretoria on Saturday evening, while there is also a clash on Sunday as the Nelspruit-based Pumas entertain the Golden Lions from Johannesburg.
The first three rounds of the competition overlap with the playoffs in Super Rugby, and it remains to be seen whether many of the Springbok will play any part in the competition with the Rugby Championship getting under way on August 19.
The top four sides in the Premier League will contest the semifinals this season, with the final set to be played on October 28.
The trophy has been shared around in the last decade, with the Sharks winning three titles, Western Province, the Cheetahs and Golden Lions two each, and the Bulls gaining a single tournament win.
The Currie Cup is one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, with matches first played in 1889.
Doubts over Cheetahs' Currie Cup defencemercredi 19 juillet 2017
Hartley signs new Saints deal, made captain
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ESPN Staff
England captain Dylan Hartley has been handed a contract extension and the captain's armband by Northampton Saints ahead of the coming season.
Hartley, 31, was captain at Franklin's Gardens between 2009 and 2015 and takes over from Tom Wood who was captain during last season.
"The decision to offer Dylan the captaincy is no reflection on how Tom Wood led the team last season," Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said. "Tom is an outstanding leader himself who is fully committed in training and in games each and every week, and he will remain an important part of the leadership group.
"But we felt that Dylan is in the right place both personally and professionally to be our captain once again. We're also delighted that he has signed a new contract to stay at Franklin's Gardens. Dylan has been one of the best hookers in Europe for several years and is hugely committed to the Saints."
"When Jim approached me about taking on the captaincy I was surprised," added Hartley. "For me, the timing is right and it is certainly a challenge I want to take on. I'm very passionate about the Saints and would love to see us competing for trophies. We have some valuable experience within the squad that will be driving the team forward this year."
Hartley signs new Saints deal, made captainPRO12 in talks to add South African teams
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ESPN Staff
Celtic Rugby have confirmed that they are in "advanced and positive discussions" with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) with the view to add two teams to the current PRO12 format.
A statement released on the official PRO12 website read "a final decision on this potential expansion will be confirmed as soon as practical" with the start of the new season nearing.
The expected teams to be named are the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings, who the SARU announced at the beginning of July would be axed from the Super Rugby competition.
The Cheetahs claimed four wins in 15 Super Rugby games this season, while the Kings claimed six.
PRO12 in talks to add South African teamsmardi 18 juillet 2017
lundi 17 juillet 2017
dimanche 16 juillet 2017
samedi 15 juillet 2017
jeudi 13 juillet 2017
mardi 11 juillet 2017
lundi 10 juillet 2017
dimanche 9 juillet 2017
Warburton expected extra time to settle series
British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has revealed he was "ready for 20 minutes of extra time" at the dramatic third Test conclusion against world champions New Zealand.
And Warburton admitted it would have been good to see a winner after the Eden Park clash ended 15-15 and resulted in a first drawn Lions Test series since 1955.
"I was expecting to go again," said Warburton, after Owen Farrell's 78th-minute penalty tied things up. "I didn't actually realise it was a drawn series. I was ready for 20 minutes of extra time.
"I was trying to drink as many electrolytes as I could because I was cramping up, but then I realised everyone was shaking hands and I thought: 'Oh, it's a drawn series'.
"You never think it is going to go down to that situation, so I never looked into what would potentially happen.
"If I had to, I would probably have tossed a coin and gone for the win, with extra-time or a golden point or something. I think it would have made for an amazing climax. I think it would be nice to see a winner.
"Obviously, as players, you always want to win, but I guess we have done the Lions jersey proud and I am sure people will be looking forward to the next tour in four years' time.
"It's a little bit cheesy, I guess, but rugby was the winner. People make up rivalries but we know these players.
"I played against them (the All Blacks) in three Tests (for Wales) last year, three Tests this year. We chat quite a lot and they are all top blokes, real nice guys.
"It was really enjoyable on the pitch. You have a bit of niggle sometimes but most of the time you are helping each other off the floor and we've got a lot of respect for each other, so there is a lot of good friendships between the two dressing rooms."
Warburton expected extra time to settle seriessamedi 8 juillet 2017
Lions hold on to draw All Blacks series
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Tom HamiltonRugby Editor
The All Blacks and British & Irish Lions played out a 15-15 draw at Eden Park as the three-Test series ended in stalemate.
More to follow...
Lions hold on to draw All Blacks seriesvendredi 7 juillet 2017
jeudi 6 juillet 2017
mercredi 5 juillet 2017
Lions make no changes for series decider
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ESPN Staff
Warren Gatland has named an unchanged 23 for Saturday's series decider between the British & Irish Lions and the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Mako Vunipola retains his place at loosehead prop despite criticism of his high penalty count in the second Test while Liam Williams has overcome a minor leg issue to start at fullback.
Gatland said: "It is not very often on a Lions Tour that you get to pick the same 23 for the following game.
"We felt we should reward the players for the result and the courage that they showed in coming from behind from 18-9 down, digging themselves out of a hole and then finishing strongly in that last 10 to 15 minutes.
"We are all aware of how big this game is and we are expecting a backlash from the All Blacks. But the pleasing thing about the 2nd Test is just how strong we were in the last 10 or 15 minutes, in terms of energy and enthusiasm so we still feel there is another level in us.
"This is a huge chance for this group of players to show their abilities and reap the benefits of the work everyone has put in. It is their chance to make Lions history."
While the tourists have opted for continuity, injuries and suspension have forced changes in the All Blacks side, which includes Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape and Julian Savea.
British & Irish Lions: Williams, Watson, Davies, Farrell, Daly, Sexton, Murray; Vunipola, George, Furlong, Itoje, Jones, Warburton (capt), O'Brien, Faletau.
Replacements: Owens, McGrath, Sinckler, Lawes, Stander, Webb, Te'o, Nowell.
More to follow.
Lions make no changes for series decidermardi 4 juillet 2017
lundi 3 juillet 2017
dimanche 2 juillet 2017
O'Brien free to play Lions series decider
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ESPN Staff
British & Irish Lions flanker Sean O'Brien has been cleared to play the series deciding Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park next Saturday.
O'Brien faced a lengthy disciplinary hearing in Wellington on Sunday for a tackle on Waisake Naholo in the Lions' 24-21 second Test triumph in Wellington.
The incident occurred in the 59th minute as All Blacks winger Naholo returned a Lions restart. Elliot Daly was first to make contact with Naholo in defence before O'Brien came through to make a tackle where his right arm collected Naholo in the side of the head.
Naholo left the field moments later for a head injury assessment which he subsequently failed.
No penalty was given for the incident at the time, but it was referred to the citing commissioner following the game.
Meanwhile, All Blacks inside centre Sonny Bill Williams copped a four week ban for his no arms tackle on Anthony Watson that saw him receive a red card.
The All Blacks have called up Malakai Fekitoa as midfield cover for the third Test at Eden Park on Saturday.
More to follow.
O'Brien free to play Lions series deciderBanned Williams to miss Lions decider
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ESPN Staff
Sonny Bill Williams has been suspended for four weeks following his red card in the second Test against the British & Irish Lions.
The All Blacks centre was given his marching orders by referee Jerome Garces in the 25th minute of Saturday's clash in Wellington, after a shoulder charge on Anthony Watson.
Williams was hit with a ban when he appeared before a three-man judicial panel in Wellington on Sunday, with the New Zealand Rugby Union announcing a verdict that means he misses next weekend's Test series decider.
More to follow.
Banned Williams to miss Lions decidersamedi 1 juillet 2017
Lions beat 14-man All Blacks to level series
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Tom HamiltonRugby Editor
The British & Irish Lions have levelled the series with New Zealand, following a thrilling 24-21 victory in Wellington.
More to follow...
Lions beat 14-man All Blacks to level seriesSBW makes unwanted history in Wellington
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ESPN Staff
Sonny Bill Williams created an unwanted piece of history in Wellington, becoming the first player ever to get sent off in a British & Irish Lions Test.
The All Blacks centre was given his marching orders by referee Jerome Garces in the 25th minute of Saturday's second Test, following a shoulder charge on Anthony Watson.
In trotting off the pitch, Williams became only the third New Zealand player to be sent off in a Test match, joining Cyril Brownlie and Colin Meads, and the first for 50 years.
Meads was the last All Black to be shown a red card, back in 1967, when he was sent off against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Remarkably, Brownlie was the first ever international to be shown a red card when he was sent off eight minutes into New Zealand's clash with England in January 1925, following a brawl.
With both previous red cards coming in the UK, Williams also has the indignity of being the first All Black to be sent off in a Test on home soil.
SBW makes unwanted history in Wellington