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Blues sign Wallaby winger Darby Lancaster ahead of Jason Holland era
The Blues have confirmed the signing of 23-year-old winger Darby Lancaster from the Western Force for the 2027 Super Rugby season. The one-Test Wallaby joins Auckland seeking to develop under incoming head coach Jason Holland.
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Flanders returns but concussion rules Delany out of Hurricanes' Super Rugby Pacific final
The Hurricanes head into the Super Rugby Pacific final with a mixed injury picture: Devan Flanders is fit to start on the blindside flank after three games out, while Caleb Delany has been ruled out with concussion, forcing a reshaped second row.
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Slipper ends Wallabies retirement to cover injuries ahead of Nations Championship
James Slipper has reversed his international retirement to make himself available for Australia's first three Tests of the Nations Championship, with injuries to Black Schoupp and Tom Robertson opening the door for the record-capped prop's return.
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Penney backs Lio-Willie for All Blacks return after standout Crusaders season
Outgoing Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has called for Christian Lio-Willie to earn another All Blacks chance, praising the No.8's consistent form during the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign despite missing out on Robertson's squads last year.
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Kaka signs with Black Ferns Sevens after third ACL rupture and becoming a mother
Shiray Kaka, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist, has signed a new contract with the Black Ferns Sevens after recovering from a third ACL rupture that forced her to miss the Paris Games and left her questioning her rugby future.
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Western Force sign Sevens star Aden Ekanayake ahead of 2027 Super Rugby season
Western Force have secured 21-year-old Aden Ekanayake from the Australia Sevens program, with the Junior Player of the Year award winner making the switch to 15s ahead of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.
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Mitchell targets surprise Prem final return as Northampton chase second title in three years
England scrum-half Alex Mitchell is in contention to play in Northampton's Gallagher Premiership final against Exeter on Saturday, having been expected to miss the rest of the club season with a hamstring injury sustained in training.
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Nacewa 'absolutely surprised' Leinster released all-time top try-scorer Lowe before URC Final
Leinster legend Isa Nacewa has admitted he is surprised the club did not retain James Lowe, their all-time leading try-scorer, who will leave for Japan after Friday's URC Grand Final against the Bulls at Croke Park.
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Erasmus shields Libbok from Barbarians risk with Nations Championship weeks away
Rassie Erasmus has named utility back Quan Horn at fly-half to face the Barbarians on Saturday, deliberately protecting Manie Libbok ahead of South Africa's Nations Championship opener against England on July 4.
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60-cap France centre Gabrielle Vernier signs for Gloucester Hartpury ahead of 2026/27 season
Gabrielle Vernier, the 2023 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship, will leave Blagnac Rugby after seven years to join three-time Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester Hartpury next season.
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Le Roux warns Leinster that Bulls have buried Grand Final demons under Ackermann
Willie le Roux insists the Bulls have moved on from their 32-7 URC Grand Final thrashing by Leinster at Croke Park, but acknowledges that facing a Jacques Nienaber-coached defence remains a formidable challenge.
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Erasmus hands five uncapped Springboks their chance against the Barbarians
Rassie Erasmus has named five uncapped players in South Africa's starting XV to face the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, with the head coach declaring his coaching staff have been 'very impressed' by the new generation's grasp of Springbok systems.
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Uncapped Stormers lock Gary Porter called into Zimbabwe squad to face South Africa A
Zimbabwe have named 29-year-old Stormers lock Gary Porter in their training squad for the Nations Cup opener against South Africa A on 20 June, with the Bulawayo-born-qualified forward eyeing a place in the matchday 23.
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World Cup winner Rosie Galligan rejoins Harlequins for 2026/27 season
Rosie Galligan will return to the Twickenham Stoop for a second spell with Harlequins ahead of the 2026/27 season, reuniting with fiancée Marlie Packer after three seasons at Saracens.
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Erasmus hands two uncapped players Springbok starts against Barbarians in 2026 opener
Riley Norton, the 20-year-old who captained South Africa to Junior World Championship glory in 2025, and Champions Cup-winning prop Carlu Sadie will make their Springbok debuts when the Boks face the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday.
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Stade Bordelais lock Price warns four-in-a-row title bid faces toughest test yet at Toulouse
Canadian lock Taylor Price says Stade Bordelais are under no illusions about the difficulty of their AXA Elite 1 semi-final at Toulouse, despite being the only side to beat the hosts this season. The defending champions are chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive French women's title.
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NRL title-winner Corey Bocking joins Harlequins to lead new athlete health role
Harlequins have appointed Corey Bocking as Head of Athlete Health and Development ahead of the 2026/27 season. The Australian arrives from South Sydney Rabbitohs and previously worked across four seasons at Penrith Panthers, where he was part of three consecutive NRL Premiership-winning campaigns.
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Ireland to host USA and Japan in five-match WXV Global Series autumn programme
Ireland Women will face the USA at Tallaght Stadium on 20 September and Japan at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on 27 September, before travelling to Cape Town for a two-Test series against South Africa in October.
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Piardi set to referee fourth straight URC final as Leinster injury doubts cloud Bulls rematch
Italian official Andrea Piardi will become the first referee to take charge of four consecutive URC Grand Finals when Leinster host the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday, with captain Caelan Doris and hooker Dan Sheehan both racing to be fit.
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Scrum-half Maude re-signs with Loughborough Lightning after first full season in 15s
Alicia Maude has committed to Loughborough Lightning for the 2026/27 season after playing all 16 PWR matches in 2025/26 — her first full campaign in fifteens following several years as a GB Sevens specialist.
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