SportsCatch

Charlie Bracken called into England camp as McParland withdraws through illness

Saracens scrum-half Charlie Bracken, son of 2003 World Cup winner Kyran, has been drafted into England's three-day alignment camp at Pennyhill Park after Northampton's Archie McParland was ruled out through illness.

Rugby Sep 7

Christian Wade six tries from Premiership record with sights set on Ashton's mark

Newcastle Red Bulls wing Christian Wade has scored 95 Premiership tries and needs just six more to surpass Chris Ashton's all-time record. The former Wasps flyer, 34, says he is determined to finally end years of near-miss talk by getting there this season.

Rugby Sep 7

Fin Smith vows not to repeat complacency that derailed Northampton's title defence

England fly-half Fin Smith has admitted he personally struggled after Northampton Saints won the Premiership in 2024, with the squad too focused on replicating past success — a trap he insists Saints will avoid as they begin defending last season's title.

Rugby Sep 7

Matfield backs Feinberg-Mngomezulu as Springboks' first-choice 10 despite second-year struggles

Victor Matfield has endorsed Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as South Africa's long-term fly-half despite an inconsistent 2025 series against the British & Irish Lions, attributing the 24-year-old's dip in form to the pressures of a sophomore season.

Rugby Sep 7

Blair admits All Blacks squandered 12 line breaks in 29-24 defeat to Springboks

All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair expressed frustration after New Zealand's 29-24 loss to South Africa at FNB Stadium, pointing to 12 line breaks that yielded too little as the Springboks clinched the home series.

Rugby Sep 7

All Blacks assistant Barnes admits Springboks' set-piece dominance demands humble pie before Baltimore

All Blacks forwards coach Neil Barnes has openly conceded New Zealand were outmuscled at scrum time in Soweto, saying he and scrum coach Jason Ryan must find solutions before the series-levelling third Test in Baltimore.

Rugby Sep 7

All Blacks lose Savea, Jacobson and Tupaea to injury ahead of Baltimore Springboks decider

New Zealand arrive in Baltimore for the fourth and final Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series without nine squad members, including key starters Ardie Savea (shoulder), Luke Jacobson (elbow tendon), and Quinn Tupaea (MCL).

Rugby Sep 6

Erasmus praises All Blacks scrum after Springboks edge third Test in Soweto

Rassie Erasmus credited New Zealand's front-row changes after South Africa's 29-24 win in Soweto, admitting the scrums were far from one-sided and calling for the 'games' narrative around Springbok set-piece tactics to be put to rest.

Rugby Sep 6

Uruguay hooker Myszka banned 13 games for tackle that left Chile's Shea Duret needing two surgeries

Joaquín Myszka has been suspended for 13 games after a no-arms tackle in the Americas Rugby Championship left Chilean prop Emilio Shea Duret requiring two surgeries. The ban, halved from an initial 26 weeks, rules the 24-year-old out until mid-2027.

Rugby Sep 6

Itoje returns as England name 36-man autumn squad but Sale pair Lawes and Marchant left out

Maro Itoje is back in England's squad for the autumn internationals after being rested for the summer Nations Championship games, but Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant are absent as Steve Borthwick waits to see them settle back into the Premiership.

Rugby Sep 6

Erasmus warns series not won as Springboks edge All Blacks 29-24 to lead 2-1

South Africa defeated New Zealand 29-24 in the third Test at FNB Stadium on Saturday, taking a 2-1 series lead. Coach Rassie Erasmus cautioned that the job is unfinished ahead of the decisive fourth Test in Baltimore.

Rugby Sep 6

Roigard accused of diving after Reinach tip-tackle incident draws South African fury

All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard faces accusations of gamesmanship after Cobus Reinach upended him late in the first half, with former Springbok Jean de Villiers calling it a deliberate dive and South African fans drawing comparisons to Neymar and Nic White.

Rugby Sep 6

Kiss backs Wallabies to front up against world-number-one Springboks after historic Argentina series win

Australia coach Les Kiss says the Wallabies will be ready for the Springboks later this month after securing a first-ever series win in Argentina, capped by a 28-28 draw in Mendoza that extended their unbeaten run to five Tests.

Rugby Sep 6

Carter Gordon faces scan after lower-leg injury in Wallabies' 28-all draw with Argentina

Australia fly-half Carter Gordon is set for scans on a lower-leg injury sustained during the Wallabies' 28-28 draw with Los Pumas in Mendoza on Saturday. His availability for the September 27 Test against South Africa in Perth is uncertain.

Rugby Sep 6

McReight's 26-tackle masterclass anchors Wallabies' historic series win in Argentina

Fraser McReight led all tacklers with 26 and scored a crucial second-half try as Australia drew 28-28 with Argentina in Jujuy on Saturday, sealing their first-ever series win on Argentine soil. Coach Les Kiss praised the openside flanker's relentless 'tenacity' throughout the tour.

Rugby Sep 6

Wallaby No. 1000 De Lutiis shines again as Australia go unbeaten in Argentina series

Massimo De Lutiis, who made history as the 1000th Wallaby last month, delivered another standout display off the bench in a 28-all draw with Argentina in Mendoza, completing 16 tackles as Australia secured an unprecedented unbeaten series away to Los Pumas.

Rugby Sep 6

Rennie concedes Springbok scrum dominance after All Blacks fall 29-24 in Soweto

Dave Rennie acknowledged South Africa's scrum superiority after the All Blacks lost 29-24 to the Springboks at FNB Stadium in Soweto, with a 36th-minute penalty try highlighting the hosts' pack dominance in the second Test.

Rugby Sep 5

Erasmus credits nine years of continuity as Springboks seize 2-1 series lead over All Blacks

Rassie Erasmus says South Africa's long-standing squad familiarity gives them an edge over Dave Rennie's still-developing All Blacks, after the Springboks secured a 2-1 lead in the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series.

Rugby Sep 5

Kolbe ruled out with broken jaw as Springboks and All Blacks count injury toll ahead of fourth Test

Cheslin Kolbe has been ruled out of the fourth Test against the All Blacks in Baltimore after breaking his jaw in Soweto. All Blacks captain Ardie Savea will also miss the match with a shoulder injury, while Quinn Tupaea's availability remains uncertain.

Rugby Sep 5

Rennie backs Carter after missed tackles cost All Blacks in Soweto defeat

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has defended winger Leroy Carter following two missed tackles that led to Springbok tries in New Zealand's 29-24 loss in Soweto, leaving them 2-1 down in the series.

Rugby Sep 5