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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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Savea backs debutant Love to deliver as All Blacks face full-strength France scepticism
New All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has endorsed Ruben Love ahead of the 25-year-old's first Test start at fly-half, while dismissing talk of a weakened France side as 'rubbish' on the eve of New Zealand's Nations Championship opener.
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Wilson urges Wallabies to seize sold-out Sydney moment 15 months from home World Cup
Harry Wilson says the Wallabies must convert a sold-out Allianz Stadium crowd into lasting momentum as Australia prepares to host Ireland on Saturday, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup looming on home soil.
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Wilson relishes Wallabies backrow duel with Ireland's Lions-tested loose forwards in Sydney
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has singled out Ireland's backrow trio of Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and Cian Prendergast as a defining matchup ahead of Saturday's first Test in Sydney, with Australia's own experienced loose forward unit boasting more than 135 combined caps.
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Carter Gordon returns to Wallabies No. 10 jersey to face Ireland in sold-out Sydney
Carter Gordon will start at fly-half for Australia against Ireland in Sydney, partnering ACT Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan in a new-look halves pairing. It is only the 25-year-old's third Test on home soil and his first since a stint in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.
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MLR champion Den Hoedt among four Chicago Hounds set to debut for USA against Portugal
Lock Nathan Den Hoedt, two weeks removed from helping the Chicago Hounds complete an undefeated MLR season, is one of four potential USA debutants named for the Nations Cup clash against Portugal in Denver on July 4.
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Tamati Ellison reunites with Jason Holland at Blues as defence coach for 2027
Maori All Blacks coach Tamati Ellison has joined the Blues' coaching staff for the 2027 Super Rugby season, reuniting with head coach Jason Holland after the pair worked together in Scott Robertson's All Blacks setup.
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Rennie backs Barrett despite All Blacks omission: 'His contributions have been massive'
New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has praised Beauden Barrett's training impact despite leaving the 144-Test veteran out of the 23-man squad to face France in Christchurch, with Hurricanes fly-half Ruben Love handed the No.10 start.
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Borthwick backs Pollock to thrive as South Africa name him 'public enemy number one'
England flanker Henry Pollock has been branded 'public enemy number one' by South African fans and former players ahead of Saturday's Test at Ellis Park, but head coach Steve Borthwick insists the 21-year-old will only shine brighter under the pressure.
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Keylock's 18-point haul fires England U20s into winner-takes-all clash with Argentina
Finn Keylock kicked 18 points as England U20s ran in ten tries to demolish illness-hit USA 68-40 at the Avchala Stadium, setting up a decisive Pool A decider against Argentina at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
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Tandy insists Wales match fees dispute leaves 'no hangover' ahead of Fiji opener
Head coach Steve Tandy says Wales players can 'wholeheartedly focus' on Saturday's Nations Championship clash with Fiji after a last-minute match fees dispute between the WRU and Welsh Rugby Players' Association was resolved on Wednesday evening.
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Pollock named on bench as Borthwick reshuffles England XV to face Springboks at Ellis Park
Henry Pollock starts on the bench as Steve Borthwick names his England side to face South Africa in the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday, with George Furbank returning at full-back and Jamie George taking the captaincy in Maro Itoje's absence.
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Latsha named permanent Springbok Women captain as South Africa host USA at Ellis Park
Babalwa Latsha has been confirmed as the permanent captain of the Springbok Women, succeeding the retired Nolusindiso Booi ahead of Saturday's Test against the USA at Ellis Park. The 41st cap for Latsha makes her South Africa's most-capped tighthead prop.
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Finn Russell ruled out injured as Tom Jordan starts Scotland's Nations Championship opener against Argentina
Bristol fly-half Tom Jordan steps in at number 10 after Finn Russell was omitted from Gregor Townsend's match-day squad with a calf injury. Scotland face Argentina in Cordoba on Saturday, with Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings both set to earn their 50th caps.
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Farrell backs Prendergast to start at fly-half for Ireland's Nations Championship opener against Australia
Andy Farrell has defended his decision to hand Sam Prendergast the fly-half jersey for Ireland's Nations Championship clash with Australia in Sydney, saying the 23-year-old has earned his place after a strong finish to the club season.
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Ex-Springboks coach Mallett warns Ellis Park suits England more than World Cup holders
Former South Africa head coach Nick Mallett says he is 'not secure at all' about the Springboks' opening Nations Championship match against England, arguing Ellis Park's conditions favour Steve Borthwick's physical, cohesive side.
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Northampton's Faissal among two Italy debutants for Nations Championship opener against Japan
Italy hand senior debuts to Malik Faissal and Alessandro Ortombina for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Japan in Tokyo. Gonzalo Quesada names an experienced side, with Juan Ignacio Brex set to win his 40th cap alongside World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Tommaso Menoncello.
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Rees-Zammit returns to wing as Wales name six changes for Fiji Nations Championship opener
Louis Rees-Zammit moves back to his preferred wing position as Wales make six changes for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Fiji in Cardiff, with the squad's pay dispute with the WRU confirmed as resolved.
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Galthié names youthful France squad to face All Blacks in Nations Championship opener
Fabien Galthié has selected a 23-man France squad with an average back-row age of just 23 to face New Zealand in the first round of the inaugural Nations Championship at Christchurch's One New Zealand Stadium.
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Highlanders sign Tonga playmaker Pellegrini on two-year deal after Moana Pasifika exit
Patrick Pellegrini, 27, has joined the Highlanders on a two-year contract after Moana Pasifika's departure from Super Rugby Pacific left him as one of the competition's most sought-after free agents.
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