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Beauden Barrett returns at fullback as All Blacks name all three Barrett brothers to face Wallabies
Beauden Barrett starts at fullback for the All Blacks against Australia at Eden Park after Richie Mo'unga is ruled out with a hamstring tear, reuniting all three Barrett brothers in the starting XV.
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Hong Kong China and Japan seize Asian Games sevens gold with dominant final-day displays
Hong Kong China shut out China 26-0 in the men's final while Japan edged China 10-5 in the women's decider at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, with both gold medallists going through the tournament largely unbeaten.
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Boston Fakafanua crowned Super Rugby AUS Player of the Tournament after Force's Grand Final triumph
Western Force outside centre Boston Fakafanua, 21, has been named the 2026 Super Rugby AUS Player of the Tournament after helping the Force defeat the NSW Waratahs 53-26 in the Grand Final in Perth.
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Savea reveals only the Blues pursued him after Moana Pasifika's collapse
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has disclosed that the Blues were the sole Super Rugby club to approach him during his free agency following Moana Pasifika's financial collapse, calling his one-year deal with Auckland his career's "last dance" in New Zealand.
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Gilmore defiant after Harlequins' heaviest league defeat in 26 years leaves them bottom
Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore insists he is the right man to reverse the club's fortunes after a 48-0 thrashing at Gloucester — their worst league defeat in 26 years — left them rooted to the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership.
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Mo'unga calf tear deepens All Blacks injury crisis ahead of Bledisloe Cup
Richie Mo'unga has been ruled out of New Zealand's Bledisloe Cup preparations after scans confirmed a calf tear sustained in training, with Fehi Fineanganofo also withdrawn due to concussion and a hamstring strain.
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Bemand urges Ireland women to embrace physical test against South Africa on historic tour
Ireland women's head coach Scott Bemand has called on his squad to thrive against a physically imposing South Africa side in a two-match WXV Global Series tour to Cape Town — the first time the two nations have met in 20 years.
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Ben Carter on six straight Wales starts: 'To get a run of games was brilliant'
Dragons lock Ben Carter has reflected on cementing his place in the Wales starting XV during the Six Nations, making six consecutive starts after initially coming off the bench. The 21-cap second row is now focused on maintaining that form at regional level with an unbeaten Dragons side.
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Sale Sharks to be without Xavier Roe for two or three games as scrum-half flies home for birth of first child
Sale Sharks head coach Alex Sanderson has confirmed scrum-half Xavier Roe will miss the club's next two or three fixtures after returning to New Zealand, where his partner Ruby is due to give birth to their first child next week.
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Six Black Ferns XV players named in New Zealand's first-ever women's U21 squad
New Zealand Rugby has named its inaugural women's Under-21 squad, with six Black Ferns XV players included ahead of a historic fixture against Australia NextGen in Christchurch on 31 October.
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Baxter confirms Hooper available for Newcastle clash after Bledisloe omission
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says Australia flanker Tom Hooper arrived back in England on Thursday morning and is in line for a bench role against Newcastle Red Bulls at Sandy Park this weekend, having been cut from Les Kiss's Bledisloe Cup squad.
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Bath attack coach Prendergast reunited with Finn Russell and full of praise for his 'incredible talent'
New Bath attack coach Mike Prendergast has spoken glowingly about his reunion with Finn Russell, having previously coached the 99-cap Scotland fly-half at Racing 92. Prendergast says the 34-year-old has matured significantly since arriving in England.
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Meafou commits to Toulouse until 2032 with five-year extension despite rival interest
France lock Emmanuel Meafou has signed a five-year contract extension with Toulouse, tying him to the Top 14 champions until 2032 and ending reported interest from Stade Français.
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England assistant El-Abd to leave for Clermont after Rugby World Cup 2027
Joe El-Abd will depart his England assistant coaching role after next year's Rugby World Cup, the RFU have confirmed, with the former Bristol flanker set to join Clermont in France's Top 14.
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World Rugby bans hip drop and knee drop tackles to protect players from serious injury
World Rugby has explicitly outlawed the hip drop tackle under Law 9.13 from November 1, carrying at least a penalty, while new guidance on the knee drop came into force on October 5. The changes follow research commissioned after February's Shape of the Game meeting.
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Former Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee named Munster interim chief as Flanagan era ends
Munster have moved quickly to fill their leadership void, appointing former Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee as interim CEO ahead of Ian Flanagan's departure at the end of October. A permanent recruitment process is still expected to follow.
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Scotland interim coach Butcher in talks over permanent role despite seven-game losing run
Dave Butcher has revealed that conversations with Scottish Rugby about taking the head coach role permanently are already under way, even as Scotland prepare for two WXV fixtures in Australia having lost all three matches in the series so far.
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Leicester hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas forced to retire at 23 on medical grounds
Leicester Tigers have confirmed that hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas, 23, has been forced to retire from rugby on medical grounds, deepening a hooker crisis at the club with Jamie Blamire and Charlie Clare also currently sidelined through injury.
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England A loosehead van der Flier signs new Leicester Tigers deal despite rival interest
Archie van der Flier has committed his future to Leicester Tigers, signing a new contract despite interest from other Premiership clubs. The 24-year-old prop has made 27 first-team appearances since his debut in October 2023.
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Hilux NPC regular season ends with 57% attendance surge and record 18-try winger
The 2026 Hilux NPC regular season has wrapped up with match attendance exceeding 300,000 — a 57 per cent rise on the previous year — while Tasman winger Kyren Taumoefolau shattered the single-season try-scoring record, crossing 18 times across the campaign.
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