SportsCatch

Matfield names France as World Cup favourites ahead of Springboks and All Blacks

2007 World Cup winner Victor Matfield believes only South Africa, New Zealand and France can lift the trophy at next year's Rugby World Cup, singling out Les Bleus — fresh from a second-half comeback win over Australia — as the team most likely to go all the way.

Rugby Jul 14

Wallabies target second-half collapse as Schmidt era ends against Italy in Perth

Australia have pinpointed the opening five minutes of the second half as a critical area for improvement ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Italy in Perth, after surrendering leads against both Ireland and France in recent weeks.

Rugby Jul 14

Debutant Anton Segner embraces All Blacks camp life ahead of Ireland Test

German-born loose-forward Anton Segner says confidence is growing after earning his first All Blacks cap against Italy, with the Blues forward now focused on Saturday's Test against Andy Farrell's Ireland in Auckland.

Rugby Jul 14

Jordie Barrett carries leg injury into All Blacks' Eden Park clash with Ireland

Jordie Barrett sat out Tuesday's All Blacks training session at North Harbour Stadium with a leg injury, though assistant coach Mike Blair confirmed the 80-cap centre is still expected to feature against Ireland on Saturday.

Rugby Jul 14

Blair confirms Barrett still in contention as Love cements All Blacks No. 10 role

Ruben Love has started New Zealand's first two Tests of 2026 after a standout Super Rugby Pacific season with the Hurricanes, but assistant coach Mike Blair insists Beauden Barrett remains firmly in the All Blacks' plans despite consecutive omissions.

Rugby Jul 14

Cannone handed four-match ban after red card in Italy's heavy loss to All Blacks

Italy lock Niccolò Cannone has been suspended for four matches after his red card for head contact on Cameron Roigard during Italy's 47-17 defeat to New Zealand in Wellington. The ban, reduced from a six-week entry point, carries over into his club season with Benetton.

Rugby Jul 14

Rugby Australia opens door to Jarome Luai code switch ahead of 2027 World Cup

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has confirmed the governing body would consider signing Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai, who faces a 12-month uncontracted window after the 2026 NRL season — potentially in time for the Rugby World Cup on home soil.

Rugby Jul 14

Junior Springboks overturn 8-point deficit to rout 14-man England 53-37 and reach Junior World Championship final

Khuthadzo Rasivhaga's hat-trick powered South Africa to a 53-37 win over England in Tbilisi, with Sale Sharks flanker Seb Kelly's first-half red card proving decisive as the Junior Boks stormed back from 20-12 down to set up a final against France.

Rugby Jul 13

Gloucester sign Coventry prop Oliver Salt as Championship pipeline delivers again

Gloucester have recruited Coventry tight-head Oliver Salt after 69 appearances in the Championship, making him the third player from the club alone to earn a Premiership move this season.

Rugby Jul 13

Wales hooker Kelsey Jones leaves Gloucester Hartpury for Sale Sharks after eight seasons

Kelsey Jones, a 57-cap Wales international and three-time Premiership Women's Rugby champion with Gloucester Hartpury, has signed for Sale Sharks, becoming the fourth player to make that move ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Rugby Jul 13

Saracens sign cross-code 'Tongan Torpedo' Va'enuku from Ampthill as sixth summer recruit

Saracens have completed the signing of Sione Va'enuku, a 104kg centre who switched from rugby league with the Sydney Roosters in 2024 and scored 17 tries in 39 appearances for Ampthill across two seasons.

Rugby Jul 13

28-cap USA lock Ehrecke joins Leicester as sixth international signing for 2026/27 PWR season

Rachel Ehrecke, a 28-cap USA Women's Eagles lock, has left Loughborough Lightning to join Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season — the club's sixth capped international recruit of the summer.

Rugby Jul 13

Erasmus hands Boks debuts to four players, including two 20-year-olds, against Wales in Durban

Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to his South Africa starting XV for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Wales in Durban, handing first caps to Jaco Williams, Vusi Moyo, Ruben van Heerden and Carlu Sadie.

Rugby Jul 13

Youngs backs Smith to start at scrum-half again after record-breaking Fiji cameo

Former England scrum-half Ben Youngs has declared Marcus Smith good enough to reprise his No.9 role against Argentina in the Nations Championship, calling the Harlequins fly-half England's greatest ever scrum-half based on his 20-30 minute cameo against Fiji.

Rugby Jul 13

USA Women stun South Africa 26-19 as De Bruin names 49-player squad for next phase

The USA Women's Eagles claimed a 26-19 victory over South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, overturning the previous week's result. Springbok Women's coach Swys de Bruin has since named a 49-player squad to begin preparations for the team's remaining 2026 Tests.

Rugby Jul 13

Pollock demands England starting shirt after hat-trick dismantles Fiji

Henry Pollock scored a hat-trick as England routed Fiji 73-8, and the 21-year-old flanker has declared his ambition to start against Argentina — a call backed loudly by former England internationals Ben Youngs, Chris Ashton and Jeremy Guscott.

Rugby Jul 13

Barrett ruled out of All Blacks' South Africa tour as Holland edges closer to return

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Scott Barrett will miss the four-Test tour of South Africa after minor injuries kept the 89-cap lock out of the entire 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. Fabian Holland, however, is tracking well to be included in the extended 44-man squad.

Rugby Jul 13

Rennie explains Will Jordan's captaincy as All Blacks leadership group is revealed

Dave Rennie has clarified why Will Jordan captained the All Blacks during the final 15 minutes against Italy, revealing that Jordan was the last of six designated leaders still on the field after a wave of substitutions.

Rugby Jul 13

Rennie taps Jordie Barrett's Leinster knowledge to decode Ireland ahead of Eden Park clash

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has drawn on Jordie Barrett's recent Leinster stint to gain insight into Ireland ahead of their Nations Championship meeting at Eden Park, with both sides unbeaten after two rounds.

Rugby Jul 13

Ioane recalled to All Blacks squad as injury cover ahead of Ireland clash

Rieko Ioane has been called back into the All Blacks squad as injury cover ahead of the Nations Championship fixture against Ireland, returning to Test rugby after a sabbatical season with Leinster where he won the URC title.

Rugby Jul 13