SportsCatch

Western Force finish .500 as Cron targets greatness with Lomax and Beale in 2027

Western Force ended their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a comeback win over the NSW Waratahs, finishing 7-7. Coach Simon Cron says the side will build around a fit Zac Lomax and a rejuvenated Kurtley Beale next season.

Rugby May 31

McKellar vows to stay at Waratahs despite fifth-place finish and injury blow to Gordon

Dan McKellar has confirmed he expects to remain NSW Waratahs head coach in 2027 after a 5-9 Super Rugby Pacific season that ended with a 31-25 loss to the Western Force. The campaign was further clouded by a suspected Achilles rupture for scrumhalf Jake Gordon.

Rugby May 31

Exeter Chiefs overpower Leicester at Welford Road to strengthen play-off position

Exeter Chiefs claimed a 35-26 bonus-point victory over Leicester at Welford Road on Saturday, moving three points clear of Saracens in fourth place. Henry Slade's last-minute penalty sealed the win, with Olly Woodburn crossing twice.

Rugby May 31

Owen Williams' 14-point haul sends Nissa Rugby back to ProD2 after edging Stade Montois

Nissa Rugby, formerly Nice Rugby, secured promotion to the Pro D2 with a 31-26 win over Stade Montois in the promotion/relegation barrage playoff at Stade Marcel Volot, condemning the Mont-de-Marsan side to the French third division for the first time since 1998.

Rugby May 31

Woodburn double fires Exeter past Leicester to keep play-off race alive

Olly Woodburn scored twice as Exeter Chiefs beat Leicester Tigers 35-26 at Sandy Park, ending Bristol's play-off hopes while leaving Leicester, Exeter and Saracens all competing for the two remaining Gallagher Premiership top-four spots.

Rugby May 31

Teneti's five-try haul earns Black Ferns Sevens bronze after Australia upset in Valladolid

New Zealand's Black Ferns Sevens recovered from a painful semifinal collapse against Australia to beat Canada 50-14 in the third-place playoff at SVNS Valladolid, with Kelsey Teneti crossing five times. The result leaves New Zealand well-placed heading into the World Championship finale in Bordeaux.

Rugby May 31

Blitzboks reach SVNS Valladolid Cup Final but unbeaten Australia await

South Africa booked their place in the SVNS Valladolid Cup Final with a 19-7 win over Argentina, but must now overcome Australia — a side that has beaten them twice already this season — to claim the title.

Rugby May 31

Crusaders face tighthead crisis ahead of Blues qualifying final as Newell and Calder limp off

Rob Penney has admitted the Crusaders may need to source outside reinforcements after losing both tighthead props Fletcher Newell and Seb Calder to injury in round 16, with a home qualifying final against the Blues looming in Christchurch.

Rugby May 31

Lowe breaks Leinster try-scoring record on his 100th appearance against Lions

James Lowe scored twice in the second half to become Leinster's all-time leading try-scorer with 71, as the province demolished Lions 59-10 in Dublin to advance to the United Rugby Championship semi-finals.

Rugby May 31

Foley's Spears reach Japan Rugby League One final amid Waratahs return links

Bernard Foley is set to bow out of Japan Rugby League One in style after his Kubota Spears booked a grand final place against the Kobe Steelers, with the veteran flyhalf strongly linked to a return to the Waratahs.

Rugby May 31

USA captain Tomasin backs squad to seize moments at SVNS Bordeaux finale

The USA arrive at the HSBC SVNS World Championship finale in Bordeaux (June 5-7) ranked in the bottom four but buoyed by back-to-back wins in Valladolid, including a tense 28-21 victory over Germany to finish ninth.

Rugby May 31

Jake Gordon suffers Achilles injury as Western Force beat Waratahs 31-25 in Perth

Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury during Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific clash in Perth, dealing a significant blow to Australia's Nations Championship preparations. The Western Force completed a comeback win over NSW Waratahs 31-25, finishing the season seventh with a 7-7 record.

Rugby May 31

Eli Oudenryn scores on Blues debut as Vern Cotter praises 20-year-old hooker

Eli Oudenryn marked his Super Rugby Pacific debut with a try for the Blues against the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato, with head coach Vern Cotter lauding the 20-year-old hooker's energy and work ethic after a promising cameo off the bench.

Rugby May 30

Feinberg-Mngomezulu on crutches as Stormers count injury cost ahead of Leinster semi-final

The Stormers face a mounting injury crisis after their 44-21 URC quarter-final win over Cardiff, with flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on crutches following an ankle injury and up to three other players also in doubt for next week's semi-final in Dublin.

Rugby May 30

Fiji thrash New Zealand 40-0 to reach SVNS Valladolid semi-finals

Fiji dismantled the All Blacks Sevens 40-0 in Valladolid on Saturday, securing a semi-final berth at the HSBC SVNS World Championship with a dominant second-half display that included tries from George Bose, Terio Veilawa, and Tomasi Vuluma.

Rugby May 30

Furbank's 79th-minute try rescues Northampton in 36-32 thriller against Gloucester

George Furbank crossed in the 79th minute to seal a nervy 36-32 Premiership win for Northampton Saints over Gloucester, securing the Saints a home semi-final in the play-offs after a match that swung repeatedly between the two sides.

Rugby May 30

Franco Smith targets home advantage as Glasgow face Bulls in URC semi-final at Murrayfield

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith is determined to maximise every home advantage available when his side host the Bulls in next Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final at Murrayfield, with the South Africans facing a long-haul travel week.

Rugby May 30

McCall bids farewell to StoneX as Saracens beat Harlequins to reach play-off brink

Mark McCall's final home match as Saracens director of rugby ended in a 26-12 victory over Harlequins, lifting the club into the Gallagher Premiership's top four for the first time since November and setting up a play-off decider against Exeter.

Rugby May 30

Saracens move into Premiership top four with 24-12 derby win over Harlequins

Mark McCall signed off from StoneX Stadium with a 24-12 victory over Harlequins in his final home match as Saracens director of rugby, lifting the club into the Gallagher Premiership top four for the first time since November.

Rugby May 30

Shaun Edwards set to leave France role two months after Six Nations triumph

Shaun Edwards is reportedly set to depart as France's defence coach just two months after helping the team claim a seventh Six Nations title. L'Équipe reports that Gerald Bastide, who previously worked under Guy Noves, is lined up as his replacement.

Rugby May 30