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Matsunaga's 17-point haul steers Japan past Italy in Nations Championship opener
Fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored a try and kicked four from the tee to finish with 17 points as Japan defeated Italy 27-10 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, claiming a commanding victory in the inaugural Nations Championship.
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Jamie Hannah earns shock All Blacks debut after last-minute Tuipulotu injury in Christchurch
Crusaders lock Jamie Hannah was handed his first All Blacks cap just hours before kick-off in Christchurch after Patrick Tuipulotu was ruled out with a tight calf, with Hannah finding out at lunchtime on matchday.
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Baloucoune ruled out hours before kick-off as O'Brien steps in for Ireland against Wallabies
Rob Baloucoune has been ruled out of Ireland's Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney through injury, with Jimmy O'Brien called up to start on the right wing in his place.
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Furbank rushed to hospital with appendicitis hours before England's Springboks opener
George Furbank has been withdrawn from England's matchday squad after being taken to hospital with appendicitis on the day of their Nations Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park. The setback likely rules him out of the remaining Tests against Fiji and Argentina.
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Will Jordan's 70th-minute try seals All Blacks' tense Nations Championship opener against France
New Zealand edged France 19-13 at half-time before surviving a fierce second-half fightback in Christchurch, with Will Jordan's try proving the decisive score in the inaugural Nations Championship Test.
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World Rugby Nations Cup launches 4 July with 12 World Cup qualifiers across two pools
The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup begins in Montevideo on 4 July as Uruguay host Georgia, featuring 12 nations already qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, split across Pool A and Pool B.
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All Blacks lose third lock as Tuipulotu injury hands Hannah debut against France
Patrick Tuipulotu has been ruled out of New Zealand's Test against France with a tight calf, forcing coach Dave Rennie to turn to Crusaders lock Jamie Hannah — his third lock change ahead of the match.
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Horan backs Shaw debut as Schmidt eyes Wallabies depth for 2027 Rugby World Cup
Wallabies legend Tim Horan has endorsed the selection of uncapped lock Lachlan Shaw for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Ireland in Sydney, arguing Joe Schmidt is building squad depth with the 2027 Rugby World Cup firmly in mind.
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Maddison Levi and Luciano Gonzalez headline Ultimate Sevens' first 16 marquee signings
Ultimate Sevens has confirmed its first 16 marquee players for Season One of the new global championship, launching in September. World Rugby Sevens Players of the Year Maddison Levi and Luciano Gonzalez lead a group that also includes three-time Olympian Henry Hutchison and Paris gold medallist Jazmin Felix-Hotham.
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Clarke relishes first Clarke-Penaud duel as Six Nations snub fuels French winger
Caleb Clarke admits he expects a fired-up Damian Penaud when New Zealand host France in Christchurch on Saturday, with the All Blacks winger acknowledging his opposite number's motivation after being dropped for the Six Nations despite being France's all-time leading try-scorer.
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Kolisi warns Springboks they cannot afford complacency against resurgent England at Ellis Park
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has cautioned his side against underestimating England, pointing to their near-miss in the 2023 World Cup semi-final as proof that Steve Borthwick's team remain a dangerous opponent despite a troubled Six Nations campaign.
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Chessum backs returning Martin to haunt Springboks again in Johannesburg opener
Ollie Chessum has backed George Martin's return from a nerve injury to unsettle South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, warning the back-to-back world champions will need to prepare for the lock who floored Pieter-Steph du Toit at the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
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Dewi Lake concedes Wales pay dispute timing was 'a shame' ahead of Fiji Nations Championship opener
Wales captain Dewi Lake has acknowledged the embarrassment of a WRU pay dispute spilling into Test week, though the matter was resolved on Wednesday, clearing the way for Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium.
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Sheehan steps up as Ireland captain for Nations Championship tour after Doris injury
Dan Sheehan will skipper Ireland across their three-match Nations Championship tour of Australia, Japan, and New Zealand after Caelan Doris was ruled out with a foot injury. The 27-year-old hooker says the call came mid-celebration after Leinster's URC final win and left him unfazed.
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Rejected by Leinster, Prendergast and O'Toole earn their biggest Ireland starts
Cian Prendergast and Tom O'Toole were both passed over early in their careers before finding new homes and fighting their way to prominent roles in Ireland's Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney.
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World Rugby launches Nations Cup to give 24 unions a competitive global calendar
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin has confirmed the Nations Cup will run alongside the new Nations Championship, giving 12 unions across two pools a full round-robin competition culminating in a Finals weekend in November.
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Gloucester forge multi-year development partnership with Japan's Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks
Gloucester Rugby have announced a multi-year international development partnership with Japanese club Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, with six players and five staff set to join the Cherry & Whites at Kingsholm this summer for a month-long pre-season placement.
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SA Rugby dismisses 'misinformed' reports of near-empty Ellis Park for England test
SA Rugby have rejected mid-week claims that only 21,000 tickets had been sold for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against England at Ellis Park, insisting the figures were 'entirely erroneous' and citing actual sales data.
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Ashley Beck leaves Brython Thunder to become Wales Women's full-time attack coach
Ashley Beck has been appointed full-time attack coach for Wales Women ahead of the WXV Global Series, stepping away from his role as Brython Thunder head coach after guiding them to the Celtic Challenge semi-finals.
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Townsend backs 'Test match animal' Jordan to fill Russell's fly-half role against Argentina
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named Tom Jordan at fly-half for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba, with Finn Russell sidelined by a calf injury. Townsend praised the Bristol back as a 'Test match animal' ahead of his 18th cap.
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