SportsCatch

Riley Higgins faces season-ending shoulder surgery before Edinburgh move

Hurricanes midfielder Riley Higgins has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. The 23-year-old is set to join Edinburgh on a three-year deal once the campaign concludes.

Rugby May 26

Mo'unga's Japan season ends as Toshiba crash out of League One quarter-finals

Richie Mo'unga's Japan Rugby League One campaign is over after Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo were beaten 26-3 by Kubota Spears in the quarter-finals, ending the two-time defending champions' title defence.

Rugby May 26

Pablo Bouza sets Spain's sights on Rugby World Cup 2027 knockout stage

Three years after taking charge, head coach Pablo Bouza has guided Spain back to the Rugby World Cup for the first time since 1999 and is already targeting a place in the knockout rounds at Australia 2027.

Rugby May 26

Blackheath's promotion confirms Championship 2026-27 line-up after 27-7 Accession Final win

Blackheath Rugby, the world's oldest rugby club founded in 1858, secured promotion to the Championship with a 27-7 victory over London Scottish in the Accession Final, confirming all 14 teams for English rugby's second tier next season.

Rugby May 26

Cullen admits Bordeaux were sharper but insists Leinster are not far behind

Leo Cullen offered a measured response to Leinster's 41-19 Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux, praising UBB's clinical edge while arguing the gap is smaller than the scoreline suggests.

Rugby May 26

Kolbe's Stormers return draws further top South African players to Cape Town

Cheslin Kolbe's confirmed return to the Stormers has triggered a wave of interest from other leading South African players, with director of rugby John Dobson revealing several have already expressed a desire to join the Cape Town franchise's Project 2029 rebuild.

Rugby May 26

Jack Crowley ruled out of Munster's URC quarter-final against Bulls in Pretoria

Munster will be without Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley for Saturday's URC quarter-final against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria, with an ongoing neural leg issue keeping him sidelined. JJ Hanrahan will again deputise at ten for the knockout tie.

Rugby May 26

England captain Zoe Stratford leaves Gloucester Hartpury to join Sale Sharks for 2026/27

World Cup-winning England Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford will leave three-time PWR champions Gloucester Hartpury and sign with Sale Sharks ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season, with the 29-year-old citing family reasons and the club's growing ambition.

Rugby May 26

Mo'unga departs Japan after quarter-final exit ends Toshiba's title defence

Richie Mo'unga has played his final game for Toshiba Brave Lupus after a 26-3 quarter-final defeat to Kubota Spears ended the club's bid for a third consecutive League One title. The All Blacks fly-half returns to New Zealand on an 18-month deal with Canterbury and the Crusaders, with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in his sights.

Rugby May 26

Kolbe leads three statistical categories as Japan Rugby League One semi-finals arrive

Cheslin Kolbe dominated the Japan Rugby League One 2025/26 regular season, topping three major statistical categories across 17 appearances for Tokyo Sungoliath. Brodie Retallick led all try-scorers with 17 in 18 games, while Isaac Lucas and former All Blacks Tele'a and Stevenson also featured prominently.

Rugby May 26

Highlanders prop Lienert-Brown banned four weeks after red card against Hurricanes

Daniel Lienert-Brown has been suspended for four weeks after being red carded in the seventh minute of the Highlanders' 45-28 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington. The Foul Play Review Committee set a six-week entry point for his dangerous tackle on Devan Flanders, reduced after his admission of guilt.

Rugby May 26

Xavier Roe leaves Chiefs for Sale Sharks after initiating his own move to England

Chiefs halfback Xavier Roe has signed with Sale Sharks for the 2027 Gallagher Premiership season, revealing he approached his agent at the end of 2025 to explore overseas options after six seasons in Hamilton.

Rugby May 26

Will Jordan ruled out for Super Rugby season with calf re-injury, All Blacks opener in doubt

Will Jordan's 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign is over after the Crusaders confirmed the All Blacks fullback re-aggravated his calf injury against the Chiefs on 22 May. The 4-6 week recovery timeline also casts doubt over his availability for New Zealand's opening Nations Championship Test against France.

Rugby May 26

Glasgow hope to have Fagerson, Dobie and Cummings fit for Connacht quarter-final

Glasgow Warriors could have Scotland internationals Matt Fagerson, Jamie Dobie and Scott Cummings available for Friday's URC quarter-final against Connacht at Scotstoun, though Gregor Brown and Huw Jones are expected to miss the match.

Rugby May 26

Paddy McCarthy faces extended absence after injuring opposite foot in Champions Cup final

Leinster loosehead prop Paddy McCarthy will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left foot in the Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux-Bèglès in Bilbao — his second foot injury of the campaign, having only just returned from surgery on his right foot.

Rugby May 26

Davidson could referee URC Grand Final as World Cup year looms, says Henning

Hollie Davidson, who became the first woman to referee a men's Six Nations match and a Top 14 game in 2025, is in contention to take charge of a URC semi-final or Grand Final, according to URC Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning.

Rugby May 26

Alex Mitchell faces season-ending hamstring injury, dealing Northampton a major blow

Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell is set to miss the rest of the season after tearing his hamstring at an England alignment camp last week — his second similar injury in under three months. Director of rugby Phil Dowson confirmed the scan results are bleak and called for a full investigation.

Rugby May 26

Ted Hill admits poor form, not selection bias, has cost him England recall

Bath forward Ted Hill has accepted personal responsibility for his absence from England's Nations Championship squad, acknowledging that a stop-start season blighted by injury has left him short of the standards required by Steve Borthwick's setup.

Rugby May 26