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Chessum backs returning Martin to haunt Springboks again in Johannesburg opener
Ollie Chessum has backed George Martin's return from a nerve injury to unsettle South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, warning the back-to-back world champions will need to prepare for the lock who floored Pieter-Steph du Toit at the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
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Dewi Lake concedes Wales pay dispute timing was 'a shame' ahead of Fiji Nations Championship opener
Wales captain Dewi Lake has acknowledged the embarrassment of a WRU pay dispute spilling into Test week, though the matter was resolved on Wednesday, clearing the way for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium.
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Sheehan steps up as Ireland captain for Nations Championship tour after Doris injury
Dan Sheehan will skipper Ireland across their three-match Nations Championship tour of Australia, Japan, and New Zealand after Caelan Doris was ruled out with a foot injury. The 27-year-old hooker says the call came mid-celebration after Leinster's URC final win and left him unfazed.
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Rejected by Leinster, Prendergast and O'Toole earn their biggest Ireland starts
Cian Prendergast and Tom O'Toole were both passed over early in their careers before finding new homes and fighting their way to prominent roles in Ireland's Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney.
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World Rugby launches Nations Cup to give 24 unions a competitive global calendar
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin has confirmed the Nations Cup will run alongside the new Nations Championship, giving 12 unions across two pools a full round-robin competition culminating in a Finals weekend in November.
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Gloucester forge multi-year development partnership with Japan's Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks
Gloucester Rugby have announced a multi-year international development partnership with Japanese club Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, with six players and five staff set to join the Cherry & Whites at Kingsholm this summer for a month-long pre-season placement.
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SA Rugby dismisses 'misinformed' reports of near-empty Ellis Park for England test
SA Rugby have rejected mid-week claims that only 21,000 tickets had been sold for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park, insisting the figures were 'entirely erroneous' and citing actual sales data.
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Ashley Beck leaves Brython Thunder to become Wales Women's full-time attack coach
Ashley Beck has been appointed full-time attack coach for Wales Women ahead of the WXV Global Series, stepping away from his role as Brython Thunder head coach after guiding them to the Celtic Challenge semi-finals.
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Townsend backs 'Test match animal' Jordan to fill Russell's fly-half role against Argentina
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named Tom Jordan at fly-half for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba, with Finn Russell sidelined by a calf injury. Townsend praised the Bristol back as a 'Test match animal' ahead of his 18th cap.
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Savea backs debutant Love to deliver as All Blacks face full-strength France scepticism
New All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has endorsed Ruben Love ahead of the 25-year-old's first Test start at fly-half, while dismissing talk of a weakened France side as 'rubbish' on the eve of New Zealand's Nations Championship opener.
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Wilson urges Wallabies to seize sold-out Sydney moment 15 months from home World Cup
Harry Wilson says the Wallabies must convert a sold-out Allianz Stadium crowd into lasting momentum as Australia prepares to host Ireland on Saturday, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup looming on home soil.
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Wilson relishes Wallabies backrow duel with Ireland's Lions-tested loose forwards in Sydney
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has singled out Ireland's backrow trio of Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and Cian Prendergast as a defining matchup ahead of Saturday's first Test in Sydney, with Australia's own experienced loose forward unit boasting more than 135 combined caps.
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Carter Gordon returns to Wallabies No. 10 jersey to face Ireland in sold-out Sydney
Carter Gordon will start at fly-half for Australia against Ireland in Sydney, partnering ACT Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan in a new-look halves pairing. It is only the 25-year-old's third Test on home soil and his first since a stint in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.
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MLR champion Den Hoedt among four Chicago Hounds set to debut for USA against Portugal
Lock Nathan Den Hoedt, two weeks removed from helping the Chicago Hounds complete an undefeated MLR season, is one of four potential USA debutants named for the Nations Cup clash against Portugal in Denver on July 4.
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Tamati Ellison reunites with Jason Holland at Blues as defence coach for 2027
Maori All Blacks coach Tamati Ellison has joined the Blues' coaching staff for the 2027 Super Rugby season, reuniting with head coach Jason Holland after the pair worked together in Scott Robertson's All Blacks setup.
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Rennie backs Barrett despite All Blacks omission: 'His contributions have been massive'
New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has praised Beauden Barrett's training impact despite leaving the 144-Test veteran out of the 23-man squad to face France in Christchurch, with Hurricanes fly-half Ruben Love handed the No.10 start.
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Borthwick backs Pollock to thrive as South Africa name him 'public enemy number one'
England flanker Henry Pollock has been branded 'public enemy number one' by South African fans and former players ahead of Saturday's Test at Ellis Park, but head coach Steve Borthwick insists the 21-year-old will only shine brighter under the pressure.
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Keylock's 18-point haul fires England U20s into winner-takes-all clash with Argentina
Finn Keylock kicked 18 points as England U20s ran in ten tries to demolish illness-hit USA 68-40 at the Avchala Stadium, setting up a decisive Pool A decider against Argentina at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
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Tandy insists Wales match fees dispute leaves 'no hangover' ahead of Fiji opener
Head coach Steve Tandy says Wales players can 'wholeheartedly focus' on Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Fiji after a last-minute match fees dispute between the WRU and Welsh Rugby Players' Association was resolved on Wednesday evening.
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Pollock named on bench as Borthwick reshuffles England XV to face Springboks at Ellis Park
Henry Pollock starts on the bench as Steve Borthwick names his England side to face South Africa in the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday, with George Furbank returning at full-back and Jamie George taking the captaincy in Maro Itoje's absence.
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