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Itoje's England tour future uncertain as Borthwick waits on Premiership play-off fitness news
England will not decide whether to rest Maro Itoje for the July Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina until after the Premiership play-offs conclude. The 31-year-old has logged more Test minutes than any player since 2016 and endured a gruelling personal year.
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Shields sees 2016 championship culture reborn in Hurricanes' semi-final push
Brad Shields, the only survivor of the Hurricanes' 2016 Super Rugby title-winning squad, says the same off-field culture that drove that championship is thriving again as Wellington prepare to face the Blues in this weekend's semi-final.
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Nearly 40 debutants reshape Super Rugby Aupiki rosters as 2026 season kicks off
All four Super Rugby Aupiki squads have been named for the 2026 season opener, with close to 40 debutants across the matchday 23s as sweeping off-season player movement transforms the competition's landscape.
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Reds teen sensation Treyvon Pritchard headlines Australia U20 squad for Junior World Championship in Georgia
Chris Whitaker has named a 30-man Australia U20 squad for the 2026 World Rugby Junior World Championship, with Queensland Reds youngster Treyvon Pritchard the standout selection and Tom Robinson named captain.
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Wafer becomes first back-to-back Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship
Ireland's Aoife Wafer claimed the 2026 Guinness Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship for a second consecutive year, becoming the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons since its introduction in 2020. The 23-year-old Harlequins flanker scored five tries and beat 20 defenders across the tournament.
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Saracens' Olivia Apps named PWR Player of the Season ahead of semi-final showdown
Canada international and Saracens scrum-half Olivia Apps has claimed the Premiership Women's Rugby Player of the Season award, with the Ontario-born half-back also named in the PWR Team of the Season alongside club teammate Zoe Harrison.
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Willis departs English rugby as Premiership Player of the Year before Bordeaux move
Tom Willis has been voted Premiership Player of the Year by his fellow professionals, signing off from Saracens in style before his move to Bordeaux. Teenager Noah Caluori claimed Breakthrough Player of the Year after a record-breaking debut season.
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Sale Sharks appoint Jacob Ford as backs transition coach alongside brother George
Sale Sharks have confirmed the appointment of Jacob Ford as backs transition coach, reuniting him with fly-half brother George and attack coach Joe at the club. The hire forms part of a wider overhaul of Sale's player development coaching staff.
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Junior Kpoku signs permanently with Toulon, closing England's World Cup door
England U20 World Championship winner Junior Kpoku has committed his future to Toulon on a permanent deal, ending any realistic hope Steve Borthwick had of selecting the 20-year-old lock-flanker for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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France's most-capped active player Fickou confirms Racing 92 exit to join Toulon
Gaël Fickou has officially completed his transfer from Racing 92 to Toulon, a year before his contract was due to expire. The 98-cap France centre says a desire to rediscover his passion for the game — and reach his Test century ahead of the World Cup — drove the move.
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Trailfinders reach first PWR semi-final and face three-time champions Gloucester Hartpury
Ealing Trailfinders Women make their Premiership Women's Rugby play-off debut on Sunday, travelling to Queensholm to face three-time defending champions Gloucester Hartpury. Scotland second-row Emma Wassell says the club's recent 41-39 win over the same opponents has built genuine belief ahead of the rematch.
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Japan's leading points scorer Lee ruled out of Nations Championship with surgery needed
Fly-half Seungsin Lee, international rugby's top points scorer in 2025 with 122 points, will miss Japan's Nations Championship campaign after head coach Eddie Jones confirmed he requires surgery on an undisclosed injury.
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Cleall and Leitch come out of retirement to bolster Barbarians Women against Wales
Former England internationals Bryony Cleall and Poppy Leitch have reversed their retirements to join the Barbarians Women's squad for their match against Wales at Allianz Stadium later this month, with Ruby Tui also confirmed in the side.
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Injury-hit Springboks lose Moerat from squad as uncapped Van Heerden earns first call-up
Salmaan Moerat has been ruled out of the South Africa squad through injury just days after being named in Rassie Erasmus' 51-man group, with uncapped Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden called up as his replacement.
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Marlie Packer ends nine-year Saracens stay to join London rivals Harlequins
England flanker Marlie Packer has signed with Harlequins after leaving Saracens, where she spent nine years. The two-time World Cup winner and 119-cap Red Roses veteran aims to help Harlequins return to the Premiership Women's Rugby top four.
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How a season in France and Aaron Smith's Instagram tips forged Exeter's Player of the Year
Scrum-half Stephen Varney, named Players' Player of the Year in his debut season at Exeter, credits a formative year with Vannes in France and childhood idol Aaron Smith for the commanding form that has driven the Chiefs into the Premiership play-offs.
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Anscombe leaves Bayonne after injury-hit season leaves Wales fly-half at career crossroads
Gareth Anscombe has confirmed he will leave Bayonne this summer after a single frustrating season in the Top 14 was derailed by a calf injury, a serious shin wound, and coaching upheaval at the club. The 35-year-old says he remains motivated to play on.
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Murley targets outside centre switch to secure spot in England's 2027 World Cup squad
Harlequins vice-captain Cadan Murley believes developing as an outside centre alongside his natural wing game will strengthen his case for England's 2027 Rugby World Cup squad, with head coach Steve Borthwick actively encouraging the positional shift.
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World Cup-winning prop Steenkamp takes head coach role at Pro D2 side Béziers
Gurthrö Steenkamp, the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok prop, has been appointed head coach of Pro D2 club AS Béziers-Hérault on a three-year deal, succeeding David Irazoqui. Club president Bob Skinstad, a former Springbok team-mate, praised the appointment.
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Radwan embraces Franklin's Gardens hostility as Leicester chase famous semi-final upset
Leicester winger Adam Radwan is unfazed by the daunting record of away sides in Gallagher Premiership play-off semi-finals, insisting the Tigers' rivalry with Northampton and a 41-17 win over the Saints last month give them every reason to believe at Franklin's Gardens on Friday.
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