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Bell returns from Ulster sabbatical with World Cup hunger as Wallabies target Ireland opener
Angus Bell says Joe Schmidt has made winning the three July Tests non-negotiable as Australia open their 2026 Nations Championship campaign against Ireland in Sydney, with the 25-year-old prop back from a formative stint at Ulster.
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Late-bloomer Meredith earns first Wallabies call-up at 26 after years on Brumbies bench
Declan Meredith has been named in Joe Schmidt's 37-man Wallabies squad for the Nations Championship after an unlikely journey from Cairns schoolboy to Super Rugby starter, potentially becoming Schmidt's eighth different flyhalf.
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Ainsley returns to Highlanders on two-year deal after two seasons in Top 14
Tighthead prop Jermaine Ainsley has re-signed with the Highlanders on a two-year deal, rejoining the Dunedin club after two seasons with Lyon in the Top 14. The three-Test Wallaby previously made 38 appearances for the Highlanders between 2022 and 2024.
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Kitshoff warns Pollock and the Smiths are in Felix Jones' crosshairs ahead of Ellis Park clash
Former Springbok prop Steven Kitshoff says Felix Jones' return to South Africa's coaching staff will sharpen their focus on England individuals — with Henry Pollock, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith all identified as key targets for next week's Nations Championship fixture.
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Holly Wood to referee PWR Final 86 days after giving birth to her second child
Holly Wood will take charge of Sunday's Premiership Women's Rugby Final at Twickenham Stoop just 86 days after the birth of her daughter Adaline, having also officiated throughout the Women's Rugby World Cup while concealing her pregnancy.
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Toulouse and Montpellier face 34-degree heat in Top 14 Final as France heatwave peaks
Saturday night's Top 14 Final at the Stade de France could be played in record-breaking temperatures of 34 degrees as a severe heatwave grips France, with the French government raising its national health alert to its highest level.
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Italy seek Women's Rugby World Cup revenge on South Africa in WXV Global Series
Italy will host South Africa and Japan at Stadio Omero Tognon in Fontanafredda across back-to-back September weekends in the new WXV Global Series, seeking revenge for the Springbok Women's 29-24 win that knocked the Azzurre out of last year's World Cup.
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Released by Ulster, Werner Kok signs one-year deal with Newcastle Red Bulls
Former Blitz Bok and 2015 World Sevens Player of the Year Werner Kok has joined Newcastle Red Bulls on a one-year deal after being released by Ulster, becoming the club's 22nd new signing ahead of next season.
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Carys Phillips becomes first daughter to follow father into Barbarians history
Wales hooker Carys Phillips has been named in the Barbarians squad to face Wales at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, making her and her father Rowland the first father-daughter pair to represent the famous invitational side.
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Wales hand four uncapped players debut call-ups for Barbarians clash at Twickenham
Steve Tandy has named four uncapped players in his Wales squad to face the Barbarians at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on Saturday, with Cardiff's Rhys Barratt, Ben Warren, Ryan Woodman and Harrison Keddie all in line for first senior caps.
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Zimbabwe-born lock Landsberg leaves Lions for Exeter to chase World Cup debut
Darrien Landsberg is set to join Exeter Chiefs from the Lions on a two-year deal, with the 27-year-old lock hoping the move to Sandy Park will unlock a first Test cap for Zimbabwe ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
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Callender captains youthful Wales side with five uncapped players against Barbarians
Alex Callender returns from injury to skipper Wales against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium, with head coach Sean Lynn naming five uncapped players including wingers Amy Williams and Kelsie Webster in his starting XV.
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JAECOO's multi-million pound deal ends Premiership Women's Rugby's two-year hunt for title sponsor
Premiership Women's Rugby have secured a multi-million pound, multi-year title sponsorship deal with Chinese automotive brand JAECOO, ending a two-year search that began when Allianz withdrew in 2024. The competition will be renamed JAECOO PWR from the 2026/27 season.
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Stewart warns Wallaroos squad changes are coming as Walsh launches full-time programme
Wallaroos all-time leading try-scorer Maya Stewart says Tim Walsh's new full-time programme will force significant squad rotation, with Australia targeting the 2029 home Women's Rugby World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Kolisi recalls 2018 comeback that defined his Springbok captaincy ahead of 72nd cap against England
Siya Kolisi has reflected on the 2018 match in which South Africa overturned a 21-point deficit to beat England 42-39 — his first game as Springbok captain — as he prepares to lead the side for a record 72nd time against the same opponents in Johannesburg on 4 July.
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Belcher ruled out of Wales Nations Championship squad with neck injury
Cardiff hooker Liam Belcher has withdrawn from Wales's Nations Championship squad after sustaining a neck injury in Cardiff's 44-21 URC defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town, leaving head coach Steve Tandy short of options ahead of fixtures against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
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Lefau-Fakaosilea returns to Queensland Reds after six years away to bolster injury-hit squad
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea has rejoined the Queensland Reds for the remainder of the 2026 Super Rugby Women's season, becoming the third Australian Sevens representative to cross over into the XVs competition this year as the Reds cope with three injury absences.
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Van Poortvliet eyes Bordeaux's Lucu as England scrum-half battle heats up before South Africa opener
Jack van Poortvliet has named Bordeaux's Maxime Lucu as a defensive role model as he fights Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer for an England scrum-half berth against South Africa on 4 July. The Leicester half-back also revealed Steve Borthwick demands high standards regardless of the scoreline.
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All Blacks Sevens pair Tocker and Lasaqa named to start New Zealand U20s' Junior World Championship opener against Japan
Bradley Tocker and Kele Lasaqa, both All Blacks Sevens players, have been named in New Zealand's starting XV for their Junior World Championship Pool B opener against Japan in Georgia, with Haki Wiseman captaining the side.
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Tamati Ellison hands debuts to six players as Maori All Blacks face Japan XV in Nagoya
Tamati Ellison has named six debutants in his first Maori All Blacks squad, with Bailyn Sullivan appointed captain for Saturday's rematch against Japan XV in Nagoya — a fixture the Kiwis won 53-20 earlier in 2025.
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