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Kirifi backs Hurricanes to handle finals pressure despite near-total inexperience
Only one current Hurricanes player has appeared in a Super Rugby Pacific final, yet Du'Plessis Kirifi insists the squad has enough experience to handle the occasion as Wellington host their first grand final since their 2016 title triumph.
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Jacobson's dressing-room speech after defeat fuelled Chiefs' semi-final demolition of Crusaders
Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes has revealed that a post-defeat address by captain Luke Jacobson sparked the turnaround that sent Hamilton's side into a fourth consecutive Super Rugby Pacific final, where they will face the Hurricanes in Wellington.
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Cotter bids farewell to Blues after 52-21 Hurricanes semi-final defeat ends his tenure
Vern Cotter's three-year stint as Blues head coach ended in a 52-21 semi-final loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington, with the 64-year-old departing having won one Super Rugby Pacific title and reached two semi-finals. He will join the Queensland Reds next season.
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Baxter's half-time belief fuels Exeter's 16-point comeback to stun champions Bath
Exeter Chiefs overturned a 16-point half-time deficit to defeat Premiership champions Bath 27-26 at the Rec, with replacement prop Ethan Burger's 68th-minute try sealing a dramatic comeback and a place in the final against Northampton.
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Exeter Chiefs erase 16-point deficit to stun Bath and reach Premiership final
Exeter Chiefs overturned a 16-point half-time deficit to beat Bath 27-26 at the Recreation Ground, ending the champions' bid for back-to-back Premiership titles and booking a final against Northampton at Allianz Stadium.
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Pollock's 26-carry masterclass fires Northampton into Premiership final
Henry Pollock produced a remarkable 26-carry performance as Northampton defeated Leicester 45-31 in their Premiership semi-final at Franklin's Gardens, booking a place in the Allianz Stadium final. Head coach Phil Dowson praised the 21-year-old Lions back row's rapid maturity after a turbulent month.
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Waratahs stand by Henry O'Donnell after 18-month ban for ADHD medication violation
NSW Waratahs centre Henry O'Donnell has accepted an 18-month anti-doping ban after testing positive for substances linked to ADHD medication during a May 2024 in-competition test. Sports Integrity Australia found the violation was unintentional and unrelated to performance enhancement.
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Kirifi backs Hurricanes to handle Blues' kitchen-sink assault in Super Rugby semi-final
Hurricanes captain Du'Plessis Kirifi has dismissed concerns over the Blues' recent slump ahead of their Super Rugby Pacific semi-final in Wellington, warning his side expects a desperate challenge despite the hosts' dominant home record.
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Litchfield hat-trick fires Northampton past Leicester and into Premiership final
Tom Litchfield scored three first-half tries as Northampton Saints defeated Leicester Tigers 45-31 at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday, booking their place in the Gallagher Premiership final at Allianz Stadium next weekend.
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Ackermann handed three-match ban after red card mars Stormers' URC semi-final exit
Stormers No.8 Ruan Ackermann has been suspended for three matches after his red card in the 21-12 URC semi-final defeat to Leinster, ruling him out of the Currie Cup's opening rounds. A guilty plea and clean record halved the original six-week sanction.
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Leyds crowned World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in back-to-back title season for Blitzboks
Tristan Leyds became the first South African to win the World Rugby Men's Sevens Player of the Year award in a decade, claiming the honour in Bordeaux after helping the Blitzboks retain the SVNS World Championship.
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Ospreys sign Wallaby centre Foketi days after securing fellow international Wright
The Ospreys have confirmed the signing of Australia international Lalakai Foketi, their second Wallaby recruit in under a week. The experienced centre joins from the Chiefs, where he provided three try assists in their Super Rugby semi-final win over the Crusaders.
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Jorja Miller wins World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year for second consecutive season
The 22-year-old Black Ferns Sevens star joins Michaela Brake and Charlotte Caslick as the only two-time winners of the award, despite New Zealand falling to Australia 26-19 in the World Championship final in Bordeaux.
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Joyce twins leave Bristol to return home for family and Celtic Challenge rugby
Wales internationals Alisha and Jasmine Joyce have confirmed they will leave Bristol Bears after six years to play in the Celtic Challenge, citing the demands of raising their son Ralphie as the driving force behind the move.
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Packer bids StoneX farewell as Saracens host Exeter in PWR semi-final
Marlie Packer plays her final home match for Saracens this Sunday when the North London club host Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Women's Rugby semi-final, having confirmed a move to city rivals Harlequins for next season.
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New coach Coghetto bloods twelve debutants as Brazil's Yaras sweep Colombia twice
Under new head coach Guilherme Coghetto, Brazil's Yaras XV defeated Colombia 32-20 and 19-10 in back-to-back warm-up fixtures, handing debuts to twelve players as the squad builds toward the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong.
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Gloucester sign 124kg Samoan tight-head Fepulea'i to replace departing Laulala
Gloucester have secured the signing of 31-year-old Samoan international prop Marco Fepulea'i for the 2026/27 season. The 124kg tight-head arrives from French rugby after 60 appearances in Pro D2 with Colomiers and a loan stint at Bayonne.
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Fisilau returns at No.8 as Exeter head to Bath for first-ever away Premiership semi-final
Greg Fisilau replaces the injured Ethan Roots at No.8 as Exeter Chiefs travel to Bath for a Gallagher Premiership semi-final — the club's first away tie at this stage. Director of rugby Rob Baxter acknowledges his side are underdogs but points to a strong record against top teams on the road.
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Finn Russell misses third straight game as Bath name side for Exeter semi-final
Scotland and Lions fly-half Finn Russell remains sidelined by a calf injury and will miss Bath's Premiership play-off semi-final against Exeter at The Rec on Saturday. Santi Carreras starts again at ten, partnered by captain Ben Spencer.
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Blazeboks fall short of SVNS Series return but Afrika sees a squad on the rise
South Africa's women's sevens side finished bottom of the pool at the Bordeaux World Championship, ending their bid to rejoin the HSBC SVNS Series. Head coach Cecil Afrika says five injuries hampered the campaign but points to a breakthrough year that included promotion through two tiers.
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