SportsCatch

England sweat over Murley and Steward injuries ahead of Fiji clash after South Africa mauling

Steve Borthwick's England face a back-three injury crisis ahead of Saturday's Test against Fiji in Liverpool, with wing Cadan Murley and full-back Freddie Steward both doubts alongside the already-absent George Furbank, who underwent an emergency appendectomy in Johannesburg.

Rugby Jul 5

Spain U20 Mateo Aragón banned seven matches for racially abusing France fly-half at Junior World Championship

Spain under-20 player Mateo Aragón has been handed a seven-match ban after an independent disciplinary committee upheld a citing for racist verbal abuse directed at France fly-half Luka Keletaona during the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Kutaisi on 2 July.

Rugby Jul 5

Townsend credits painful Pumas collapse for Scotland's scintillating 47-38 revenge in Córdoba

Scotland ran in seven tries to defeat Argentina 47-38 in Córdoba, opening their Nations Championship campaign in style. Head coach Gregor Townsend said last autumn's humiliating home collapse against the same opposition had proved a turning point for the squad.

Rugby Jul 5

Scotland climb to joint all-time high of fifth after record win over Argentina

Scotland's 47-38 victory over Argentina in Córdoba — their highest-ever score on Pumas soil — lifts them two places to fifth in the World Rugby Men's Rankings, equalling their all-time best and leapfrogging both Argentina and England.

Rugby Jul 5

USA snatch Nations Cup opener 30-29 as Hilsenbeck's late penalty sinks Portugal

Chris Hilsenbeck's clutch 78th-minute penalty sealed a 30-29 victory for the USA over Portugal in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup in Denver on Saturday, giving the hosts a confidence-building win 15 months out from Rugby World Cup 2027.

Rugby Jul 5

Hilsenbeck's last-gasp penalty snatches USA a 30-29 thriller over Portugal in Nations Cup

Chris Hilsenbeck slotted a long-range penalty in the 78th minute to give the USA a dramatic 30-29 victory over Portugal in Denver, despite Manuel Cardoso Pinto scoring four tries for Os Lobos.

Rugby Jul 5

Love impresses on All Blacks No.10 debut as New Zealand edge France 34-32

Ruben Love delivered a composed first start at fly-half for the All Blacks despite a second-minute yellow card, helping New Zealand overturn a 10-5 deficit to beat France 34-32, with coach Scott Rennie and captain Ardie Savea both praising the 25-year-old's performance.

Rugby Jul 5

Schmidt backs Gordon and Donaldson despite narrow Nations Championship loss to Ireland

Joe Schmidt has praised fly-halves Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson following Australia's 33-31 Nations Championship defeat to Ireland in Sydney, insisting both playmakers contributed positively despite the narrow loss.

Rugby Jul 5

Faiilagi and Tuitama each score twice as Manu Samoa demolish Hong Kong China 66-19

Manu Samoa ran in ten tries to crush Hong Kong China 66-19 at Estadio Nacional in Santiago in the World Rugby Nations Cup, with Super Rugby duo Miracle Faiilagi and Tuna Tuitama both crossing twice and AJ Alatimu contributing 21 points.

Rugby Jul 4

Lakai flags 'soft' defensive lapses despite All Blacks edging France in Christchurch

Peter Lakai acknowledged New Zealand's defensive frailties after their two-point win over France in Christchurch, citing quick ruck play and middle-field tries as areas to address ahead of next week's Test.

Rugby Jul 4

Erasmus flags four Springbok injury doubts after South Africa demolish England 45-21

Rassie Erasmus has raised concerns over Ox Nche, Andre Esterhuizen, Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth after South Africa's 45-21 Nations Championship win over England at Ellis Park, with Scotland visiting next weekend.

Rugby Jul 4

Savea credits Ruben Love for 'taking control' as All Blacks edge France 34-32 in Christchurch thriller

Ardie Savea singled out Ruben Love as a surprise leadership standout after the All Blacks survived six lead changes to beat an understrength France 34-32 in the first Test at Christchurch's One New Zealand Stadium.

Rugby Jul 4

England routed 45-21 by South Africa as discipline crisis and Furbank injury deepen tour misery

England slumped to a fifth consecutive Test defeat, losing 45-21 to South Africa at Ellis Park in their Nations Championship opener. Captain Jamie George admitted discipline 'let us down' after Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper were sin-binned simultaneously, leaving the tourists with 13 men in the final seven minutes.

Rugby Jul 4

Erasmus praises Springboks debutants but admits pair 'weren't brilliant' in 45-21 rout of England

Rassie Erasmus gave a measured verdict on Cameron Hanekom and Paul de Villiers after the uncapped pair stepped in at the last hour for South Africa's 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park, with Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi both ruled out on the eve of the match.

Rugby Jul 4

Tandy savours Wales's six-try rout of Fiji but warns of stern tests ahead

Wales ended a near five-year wait to score six tries in a Test match with a 39-24 victory over Fiji in Cardiff, but head coach Steve Tandy is tempering expectations ahead of away fixtures against Argentina and South Africa.

Rugby Jul 4

Jac Morgan's double leads Wales to bonus-point win over Fiji in Nations Cup opener

Wales overcame an early Fijian onslaught to win 41-27 at Cardiff City Stadium, with flanker Jac Morgan scoring twice on his return to the side. Six Welsh tries secured a bonus point despite Fiji crossing three times.

Rugby Jul 4

Schmidt backs Donaldson after fly-half's last-gasp penalty miss costs Wallabies in 33-31 thriller

Joe Schmidt has pledged his support for Ben Donaldson after the fly-half missed two penalties — including a match-winning attempt in the final play — as Australia fell 33-31 to Ireland in Sydney.

Rugby Jul 4

Fineanganofo breaks Super Rugby try record then spends All Blacks debut halftime sick with nerves

Fehi Fineanganofo earned his first All Blacks cap off the bench in New Zealand's tight win over France in Christchurch, but the Hurricanes winger admitted nerves drove him to the toilet at halftime before he settled with his first carry on the field.

Rugby Jul 4

Springboks lose Kolisi and Etzebeth to late withdrawals before England clash at Ellis Park

South Africa have been dealt a major pre-match blow as captain Siya Kolisi and veteran lock Eben Etzebeth are both withdrawn from the squad hours before Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park.

Rugby Jul 4

Rennie hails 'outrageous' 85% ruck speed as All Blacks edge France 34-32 in Christchurch

Dave Rennie singled out New Zealand's lightning-quick ball as the standout statistic from a narrow 34-32 win over France in Christchurch, with 83% of the All Blacks' rucks won inside three seconds in his first Test in charge.

Rugby Jul 4