SportsCatch

Sale Sharks vow to keep Christ Tshiunza despite Welsh regions' interest ahead of 2027 World Cup

Sale Sharks head coach Alex Sanderson has declared his intention to retain Wales international Christ Tshiunza beyond his current one-year deal, even as Welsh regions circle the 24-year-old lock and flanker with an eye on his 2027 Rugby World Cup eligibility.

Rugby Oct 6

Exeter Chiefs sign free-agent No.8 Tuipulotu to cover Capstick injury

Exeter Chiefs have snapped up former Scarlets and Pau back-row Carwyn Tuipulotu as a free agent, with the 24-year-old immediately available for selection after Rob Baxter used an injury dispensation slot to fill the void left by the long-term absence of Richard Capstick.

Rugby Oct 6

Trailfinders bolster Women's Premiership squad with Netherlands back-row Isa Prins

Trailfinders Women have signed 23-year-old Netherlands international Isa Prins ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season. The versatile back-row joins a growing roster that already includes Ruby Tui, Bo Westcombe-Evans, Helen Nelson, and Canada's Laetitia Royer.

Rugby Oct 6

Glasgow Warriors in talks to extend Scotstoun lease to 2032 with stadium expansion plans

Glasgow Warriors are negotiating a new four-year lease extension at Scotstoun with Glasgow Life, keeping them at the 7,261-capacity venue until at least 2032, while plans to relocate the running track could unlock significant stadium redevelopment.

Rugby Oct 6

Swys de Bruin takes head of coaching role at Paarl Boys' High after SA Rugby split

Swys de Bruin has landed his first coaching position since his abrupt departure as Springbok Women head coach, joining Paarl Boys' High School — the same role his son Neil held before moving to the Blue Bulls in the URC.

Rugby Oct 6

Pollock confirms LA28 Olympic ambition but Great Britain face qualification battle

Northampton Saints flanker Henry Pollock has openly declared his desire to represent Great Britain Sevens at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, citing Antoine Dupont's Paris gold as inspiration — though GB men must first fight their way back onto the main SVNS circuit after relegation.

Rugby Oct 6

Scotland name 32-player squad for two-Test tour of Australia amid search for form

Interim head coach Dave Butcher has selected a 32-player squad for Scotland's two-Test series against the Wallaroos in Sydney and Canberra, with captain Rachel Malcolm leading a side still searching for just their second win of the calendar year.

Rugby Oct 6

Premiership Women's Rugby locks in The Stoop as Final venue through 2029

JAECOO Premiership Women's Rugby has confirmed The Stoop will host the PWR Final in 2027, 2028 and 2029, with the first of those fixtures set for Sunday, June 27, 2027. The deal follows a record-breaking 2025/26 season that drew more than 8,000 fans to the Harlequins ground.

Rugby Oct 6

Cheetahs secure Swansea base for EPCR Challenge Cup campaign with Ospreys partnership

The Toyota Cheetahs will use Ospreys' St Helen's as their European base this season, hosting EPCR Challenge Cup pool fixtures against Dragons on December 13 and Perpignan on January 17 as part of double-header weekends in Swansea.

Rugby Oct 6

Mignoni quits as Toulon head coach after one win in five Top 14 matches

Pierre Mignoni has resigned as Toulon head coach with immediate effect after a dismal start to the Top 14 season left the three-time European champions 13th with one win from five games. Assistant Franck Azéma steps up to replace him.

Rugby Oct 6

Canada's Rugby World Cup return drives Spencer Jones to Nottingham in landmark Champ deal

Nottingham have signed Canadian international centre Spencer Jones, 29, becoming the first club to recruit through a new Rugby Canada–Champ Rugby partnership designed to give players competitive minutes ahead of RWC 2027 in Australia.

Rugby Oct 6

Umaga warns All Blacks must adapt as Kiss stamps his mark on resurgent Wallabies

All Blacks defence coach Tana Umaga has acknowledged Australia's tactical evolution under Les Kiss ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener in Auckland, warning New Zealand must adjust to a wider, more expansive Wallabies attack.

Rugby Oct 6

Umaga urges All Blacks defensive response after three straight Springbok defeats

All Blacks defence coach Tana Umaga has called on his side to rediscover their defensive edge ahead of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies at Eden Park, admitting three consecutive losses to the Springboks — conceding an average of 35 points — is something he cannot recall happening in his lifetime.

Rugby Oct 6

Lonergan sizes up Roigard ahead of Bledisloe Cup No. 9 duel at Eden Park

Wallabies scrum-half Ryan Lonergan has praised All Blacks rival Cam Roigard as a 'great attacking threat' with a left foot to match, as the pair prepare for a potential positional duel in the Bledisloe Cup series opener in Auckland.

Rugby Oct 6

World Cup final heartbreak drives Shannon Frizell's All Blacks comeback ahead of Bledisloe

Shannon Frizell has returned to the All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup series, motivated by the 12-11 defeat to South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final — a game in which he was yellow-carded and New Zealand played 80 per cent of the match with 14 men.

Rugby Oct 6

From 90 Super Rugby caps to Wallabies regular: Lonergan's 374-day transformation

Ryan Lonergan has gone from long-time Super Rugby journeyman to first-choice Wallabies scrum-half and goal-kicker in just over a year, racking up 26 conversions in his last seven Tests ahead of a potential Bledisloe Cup start against the All Blacks.

Rugby Oct 6

Grand Final hero Finn Prass signs two-year Japan deal after Brothers' 37-point Hospital Cup triumph

Fly-half Finn Prass claimed the Tony Shaw Medal as Queensland Premier Rugby's Player of the Grand Final after Brothers demolished Wests Bulldogs 51-14, before confirming a two-year professional contract with Japan Rugby League One side the Urayasu D-Rocks.

Rugby Oct 5

Ioane credits Leinster sabbatical for reigniting All Blacks career under Rennie

Rieko Ioane says his 2026 season at Leinster gave him a debut-like freshness on returning to the All Blacks, with the 89-Test centre now firmly in Dave Rennie's plans ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series.

Rugby Oct 5

Roigard targets Bledisloe redemption after South Africa series stings All Blacks

All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard has reflected on a painful series defeat to South Africa, identifying discipline and accuracy as the key failings, and says the Bledisloe Cup opener at Eden Park this weekend offers an immediate chance to respond.

Rugby Oct 5

Gloucester top the Premiership after back-to-back demolitions of Exeter and Harlequins

Gloucester sit top of the Gallagher Premiership after crushing Exeter 45-24 and Harlequins 48-0 in their opening two games — a remarkable turnaround from a side that was winless and eighth after the same stage last season.

Rugby Oct 5