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Munster release Grand Slam winners Butler and Gibbons alongside Patterson and Smith
Munster have confirmed the departures of four senior backs, including Ireland U20 Six Nations Grand Slam winners Tony Butler and Fionn Gibbons, plus scrum-half Paddy Patterson and Ireland 7s winger Andrew Smith.
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Exeter captain Jenkins calls Premiership final against Northampton the benchmark of his career
Dafydd Jenkins, 23, will lead Exeter at Twickenham on Saturday as the Chiefs seek a third Premiership title, just 12 months after finishing second bottom of the table. The Wales lock says the final against Northampton is the biggest game he has ever been involved in.
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World Rugby scraps home weighting from rankings ahead of Nations Championship
World Rugby will remove home weighting from its rankings calculation from July 1, ending a system in place since 2003 that treated host nations as three rating points stronger than their actual standing.
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George North delays retirement to face Wales for Barbarians at Twickenham
George North, who announced his retirement in April after 121 caps and 47 tries for Wales, will play one final game for the Barbarians against his home nation at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on 27 June.
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Fainga'anuku breaks leg to miss All Blacks selection window after Crusaders semi-final exit
Leicester Fainga'anuku will be sidelined for 10-12 weeks after fracturing his fibula in the Crusaders' Super Rugby semi-final defeat to the Chiefs, ruling the versatile 26-year-old out of All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie's squad named on Monday.
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Van der Merwe set for Barbarians debut against Springboks with school friend Gelant alongside him
Duhan van der Merwe will make his Barbarians debut on Saturday when the Baa-baas face world champions South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, with former schoolmate Warrick Gelant selected at full-back.
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Schmidt recalls retired Slipper and names three Super Rugby debutants in first Wallabies squad of 2026
Joe Schmidt has named three uncapped players — Lachie Shaw, Miles, and Declan Meredith — in Australia's first squad of 2026, while veteran prop James Slipper comes out of international retirement to add to his record 151 Test caps.
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Wallaroos Player of the Year Tuinakauvadra returns from injury to spearhead Brumbies' Fiji trip
Tabua Tuinakauvadra has been named in the ACT Brumbies starting side to face the Fijian Drua in Ba this weekend, just weeks after returning from a meniscus injury — and with a landmark move to Leicester Tigers in England's PWR on the horizon.
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Jordie Barrett senses a maturing Hurricanes side ready to end their 10-year title drought
Jordie Barrett says the 2026 Hurricanes have shown a new cohesiveness since his return from Leinster, with the co-captain believing the squad's growth could finally deliver a first Super Rugby title in a decade when they face the Chiefs in Saturday's final.
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Three uncapped players named as Wallabies open 2026 Nations Championship campaign
Joe Schmidt has named a 37-man Wallabies squad for the Nations Championship featuring three uncapped players — Brumbies duo Declan Meredith and Lachlan Shaw, plus Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero — alongside the return of veteran prop James Slipper.
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Eight debutants set to light up Hurricanes Poua's first home game against Matatu
Five Hurricanes Poua debutants and three Matatu newcomers are poised to make their Super Rugby Women's bows in Upper Hutt on Sunday, as the Wellington side seek a first win after a heavy round-one defeat to the Blues.
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Three Black Ferns Sevens stars set for Super Rugby Aupiki debuts as Blues and Chiefs Manawa name squads
Justine McGregor and Louise Blyde will make their Chiefs Manawa debuts in Round 2 of Super Rugby Aupiki, while the Blues hand Samoan prop Glory Aiono a starting role in Hamilton.
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Reds lock in Bloomfield and Blake after breakout Super Rugby seasons earn new deals
Queensland Reds have re-signed props Nick Bloomfield and George Blake following career-best Super Rugby Pacific campaigns in 2026. Bloomfield signs through 2028, while Blake commits for 2027 after making his first starts in three years.
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Black Ferns prop Kalounivale starts as Reds seek first win against Western Force
Tanya Kalounivale, the 29-Test Black Ferns tighthead, makes her first Super Rugby regular-season start for the Queensland Reds on Saturday as they face the Western Force at Wanneroo Rugby Club, with both sides still searching for their opening win.
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136-game veteran Cadeyrn Neville rejoins Queensland Reds after seven seasons with Brumbies
Eight-Test Wallabies lock Cadeyrn Neville has signed with the Queensland Reds for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season, returning to Ballymore after departing the ACT Brumbies following seven seasons at the club.
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Grace Freeman set to end 450-day injury absence as Western Force face Queensland Reds
Western Force fly-half Grace Freeman has been named in the reserves for Saturday's Super Rugby Women's clash against the Queensland Reds in Wanneroo, more than 450 days after fracturing her foot against the Fijian Drua in 2024.
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Ford backs England's leadership depth to cover Itoje absence on summer tour
George Ford says England's leadership is a collective effort and will not collapse without Maro Itoje, who could be rested until next season after a gruelling year with the British and Irish Lions. Ford also praised debutant Benhard Janse van Rensburg ahead of Friday's non-cap match against France XV.
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Baxter refuses to confirm reports of Tom Hooper contract extension ahead of Prem final
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter declined to address reports that Wallabies flanker Tom Hooper has signed a one-year extension to remain at Sandy Park until 2028, calling the matter 'not commentable' days before Saturday's Gallagher Premiership final against Northampton Saints.
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Genge backs Heyes to prove he is world's best tighthead against South Africa
Ellis Genge has declared Leicester Tigers prop Joe Heyes the best tighthead in the world and believes a Nations Championship Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on July 4 is the perfect stage for him to prove it.
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Farrell hands Ireland debuts to Connacht trio as Lions stars rest before tour
Andy Farrell has named a 36-man Ireland squad for the Nations Championship summer tour, handing potential Test debuts to uncapped Connacht players Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen while 12 Lions await their first summer break in two years.
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