United Rugby Championship
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Jack Singleton nears rugby return a year after cardiac event but will leave Gloucester
England hooker Jack Singleton is entering the final phase of rehabilitation almost 12 months after suffering a cardiac event in training, with Gloucester confirming he will not be retained beyond the current season.
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Edinburgh complete new-look coaching staff by signing ex-Australia 7s international Hodge
Michael Hodge, a former Australia Sevens player and ex-IRFU under-20 assistant coach, has signed a two-year deal as Edinburgh's skills and contact coach, completing head coach Sean Everitt's revamped backroom team ahead of the 2026/27 URC season.
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Stormers eye Faf de Klerk on loan to fill scrum-half crisis before URC opener
DHL Stormers head coach John Dobson is exploring a loan move for 34-year-old Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk after losing two half-backs to injury ahead of their United Rugby Championship season opener against Connacht on 25 September.
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Bath risk losing loyal servant Obano to Bordeaux-Bègles after contract talks
England loose-head Beno Obano, who has made close to 200 appearances for Bath, held face-to-face talks with Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Bègles last week, leaving the Premiership club facing a significant prop shortage heading into next season.
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McParland faces contract crossroads at Northampton with first-choice spot out of reach
Northampton Saints scrum-half Archie McParland, 21, is set for talks over his future after entering the final year of his contract, with Lions star Alex Mitchell blocking a clear path to the starting nine.
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Scarlets secure Eddie James on new deal amid WRU West Wales licence battle
Wales centre Eddie James has extended his contract with the Scarlets, with Director of Rugby Nigel Davies describing the retention of the 24-year-old as a significant moment for a club fighting to preserve its WRU West Wales regional licence against the Ospreys.
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Sale Sharks revive Papier pursuit as Jantjies eyes Stormers escape from Bayonne
Sale Sharks have renewed their bid to sign Bulls scrum-half Embrose Papier in the final year of his contract, while Herschel Jantjies could be offered a route back to South Africa as Bayonne's director of rugby signals he is open to letting the Springbok leave.
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Leinster set to open contract talks with Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast
Sam Prendergast entered the final year of his Leinster contract in July, and the back-to-back URC champions are preparing to open renewal talks with the 23-year-old Ireland fly-half.
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Wales lock Alaw Pyrs commits to Gloucester Hartpury for a second PWR season
Twenty-year-old Wales lock Alaw Pyrs has re-signed with Gloucester Hartpury for the 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season, extending a debut campaign in which she made five league appearances and scored one try.
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Tchumbadze extends Exeter stay as Baxter eyes all-Georgian prop partnership
Tight-head Bachuki Tchumbadze has signed a one-year contract extension with Exeter Chiefs, keeping the 24-year-old Georgian international at Sandy Park until 2028. His renewal sets up a potential Georgian front-row partnership with loose-head Nika Abuladze, who rejoined the club from Montpellier this month.
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Scarlets sign Hurricanes lock Tom Allen to bolster URC second-row stocks
Scarlets have added 21-year-old New Zealand U20 lock Tom Allen from Super Rugby Pacific champions the Hurricanes, making him the latest in a string of summer signings ahead of the 2026/27 URC season.
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Phillips leaves Harlequins for Exeter Chiefs ahead of 2026/27 Premiership Women's season
Wales hooker Carys Phillips has signed for Exeter Chiefs after three seasons at Harlequins, becoming the second Welsh international to join Sandy Park for the upcoming Premiership Women's Rugby campaign.
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Former Japan attack coach Dan Bowden joins Cardiff Rugby as assistant
Dan Bowden, who served as Japan's attack coach under Eddie Jones in 2024, has been appointed assistant coach at Cardiff Rugby, reuniting him with UK rugby nearly a decade after retiring as a player.
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Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley steps down after two-and-a-half years at the helm
Lance Bradley has left his role as Ospreys chief executive after two-and-a-half years, with the club confirming his departure on Tuesday. Bradley oversaw the region's return to St Helen's and a significant improvement in finances during a turbulent period for Welsh rugby.
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28-cap USA lock Ehrecke joins Leicester as sixth international signing for 2026/27 PWR season
Rachel Ehrecke, a 28-cap USA Women's Eagles lock, has left Loughborough Lightning to join Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season — the club's sixth capped international recruit of the summer.
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Ioane recalled to All Blacks squad as injury cover ahead of Ireland clash
Rieko Ioane has been called back into the All Blacks squad as injury cover ahead of the Nations Championship fixture against Ireland, returning to Test rugby after a sabbatical season with Leinster where he won the URC title.
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GB Sevens back Josh Radcliffe joins Cornish Pirates after Chiefs and NZ Universities stints
Josh Radcliffe, who represented the Waikato Chiefs, New Zealand Universities and Team GB Sevens, has signed a one-year deal with Championship side Cornish Pirates. Welsh URC club Ospreys have also secured scrumhalf Harri Williams on a contract extension.
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Debutant Jansen scores on his first Ireland start as Farrell's side edge Japan 36-20
Sean Jansen marked his Ireland debut with a try as Andy Farrell's side claimed a 36-20 bonus-point Nations Championship win over Japan in Newcastle, keeping Ireland perfect through two matches in the Northern Hemisphere group.
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Bath face gruelling Loftus Versfeld trip as Champions Cup pool fixtures land
EPCR has confirmed the 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup pool schedule, handing Bath a daunting mid-winter journey to face the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria. Reigning champions Bordeaux open their title defence away at Gloucester on 16 October.
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Munster sign Irish-qualified tighthead Kieran Brookes on two-year deal from Perpignan
Munster have completed the signing of 35-year-old tighthead prop Kieran Brookes on a two-year contract after his Perpignan deal was terminated early. The former England international brings extensive club experience to Clayton McMillan's front row.
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North Korea U17 W
