Rugby

Hudson Creighton of the Brumbies scores a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 5 match between the ACT Brumbies and Moana Pasifika in Canberra, Friday, March 22, 2024. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

Hurricanes make 14 changes but still beat Melbourne Rebels 54-28 in Super Rugby

The Hurricanes have flaunted their depth in a 54-28 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific.

Wales' George North goes off injured during the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and Italy, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday March 16, 2024. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

North ruptured Achilles in rugby test swansong and out for rest of the season

Brumbies Corey Toole, center, runs past defenders to score a try during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Highlanders and the ACT Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Michael Thomas/AAP Image via AP)

Struggling Crusaders face the Blues, aiming to end a 4-game losing stretch in Super Rugby

Scotland's Finn Russell, right, runs to gather a loose ball during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland, at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

20-minute red cards? Rugby could be about to shake up its sanctioning process

Tom Lynagh, left, of the Queensland Reds runs with the ball during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Queensland Reds in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 15, 2024. (Rob Prezioso/AAP Image via AP)

Flyhalves shine in Super Rugby, chasing All Blacks, Wallabies spots

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Italy's Lorenzo Pani scores a try during the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and Italy, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday March 16, 2024. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Italy win again in Cardiff and pass the Six Nations wooden spoon to Wales

Italy has earned another historic win in Cardiff and left Wales with the dreaded wooden spoon for finishing last in the Six Nations.

Brumbies Corey Toole, center, runs past defenders to score a try during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Highlanders and the ACT Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Michael Thomas/AAP Image via AP)

Brumbies beat Highlanders as Australian teams continue a strong start in Super Rugby Pacific

The ACT Brumbies turned in an improved second-half performance to beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 27-21 in Super Rugby Pacific.

Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony attends a press conference at Twickenham Stadium, London, Friday March 8, 2024. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Retaining the Six Nations title for Ireland will mean ‘absolutely everything,’ says O’Mahony

Captain Peter O’Mahony says another Six Nations title for Ireland on Saturday will mean “absolutely everything.”

Tom Lynagh, left, of the Queensland Reds runs with the ball during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Queensland Reds in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 15, 2024. (Rob Prezioso/AAP Image via AP)

Crusaders lose 4th consecutive match for worst-ever start to a Super Rugby season

The Crusaders’ start to the Super Rugby Pacific season went from poor to unprecedentedly bad with their fourth consecutive loss, a 14-10 home defeat to the Wellington-based Hurricanes.

Ireland's head coach Andy Farrell chats with his player before the start for the Six Nations rugby union international match between England and Ireland, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, March 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Ireland not expected to squander second shot at Six Nations title on return home

Defending champion Ireland is unchanged after the loss to England for its Six Nations title shot against Scotland on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.

Italy's Ange Capuozzo celebrates at the end of the Six Nations rugby union match between Italy and Scotland at Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Italy won 31-29. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)

Italy trying to make history and Wales trying to avoid it in Six Nations finale

A broken finger has ruled out fullback Ange Capuozzo from Italy’s visit to Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.

France team line up before the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Le Crunch has some bite again as rejuvenated France faces fired-up England

Le Crunch will have some bite to it after all on Saturday when a rejuvenated France and a fired-up England close the Six Nations in Lyon.

Kiwi clubs approve as Australian franchises improve in Super Rugby Pacific

Australian teams are “flying” in Super Rugby Pacific this season. That headline in a major newspaper reflects the buoyancy of many fans after two Australian franchises began the season with wins over top New Zealand sides.

Ireland's Robbie Henshaw, left, tackles Wales' George North during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

George North retiring from test rugby after Wales plays Italy in Six Nations this weekend

Wales center George North will retire from international rugby after facing Italy in their Six Nations finale on Saturday in Cardiff.

FILE - South Africa's Lood de Jager makes a break during the second Rugby Championship test match between the Wallabies and the Springboks in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Springboks lock Lood de Jager has spoken at length publicly for the first time about the heart ailment which caused him to miss last year’s Rugby World Cup and might have been fatal if it had not been diagnosed in time. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

A heart scare gives Springboks lock Lood de Jager a new zest for rugby

Springboks lock Lood de Jager has spoken publicly at length for the first time about the heart ailment which caused him to miss last year’s Rugby World Cup and might have been fatal if it had not been diagnosed in time.

France's Gregory Alldritt, centre, tackled by Wales Joe Roberts, left, and Wales Tommy Reffell during the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and France at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

New-look France grinds down Wales in pride-restoring Six Nations win

France’s new-look side has overpowered winless Wales with a pride-restoring 45-24 record score in Cardiff in the Six Nations.

Early-season surprise: Out-of-sorts Crusaders a talking point in Super Rugby

One question more than any other hovers over Super Rugby Pacific after its third round this past weekend. What’s wrong with the Crusaders?

Italy's players celebrate at the end of the Six Nations rugby union international match between Italy and Scotland, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Saturday, March 9, 2024. Italy beat Scotland by 31-29. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italy wins a Six Nations home match after 11 years by upsetting Scotland

Italy has won a Six Nations match at home for the first time in 11 years after overcoming Scotland 31-29 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Hurricanes beat fellow New Zealand side Blues to take lead in Super Rugby Pacific standings

Josh Moorby has scored two first-half tries while Kini Naholo scored one and set up another as the Wellington-based Hurricanes beat the Auckland-based Blues 29-21 to stay unbeaten after three rounds in Super Rugby Pacific.

France's Thomas Ramos is challenged by Italy's Stephen Varney during the Six Nations rugby union international between France and Italy at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, northern France, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Also-ran France resets with 8 changes for Six Nations match at winless Wales

Three rounds is the earliest stage France has fallen out of Six Nations title contention on coach Fabien Galthié’s watch.

Melbourne Rebels beat Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby despite Savea’s record score

Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has become the all-time leading try-scoring in Super Rugby. It was in a losing cause as Moana Pasifika went down 29-23 to the Melbourne Rebels.

Ireland's Bundee Aki forces his way through to score a try during a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ireland favored to clinch Six Nations title at England’s expense at Twickenham

Ireland can clinch the Six Nations title this weekend with one more bonus-point win. Anything less against England at Twickenham on Saturday will be a shock.

Italy players celebrate after Italy's Ange Capuozzo scored a try during the Six Nations rugby union international between France and Italy at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, northern France, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Italy hands test debut to Lynagh in Six Nations against title-chasing Scotland

Winger Louis Lynagh, the son of Australia great Michael Lynagh, has been given a test debut by Italy against Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday in Rome.

Crusaders face a tough return to Fiji as they seek to end a losing start to Super Rugby

The Christchurch-based Crusaders have summoned international backup as they attempt to stem an early season losing streak in Super Rugby Pacific before returning to the site of one of their most historic defeats.

France's Antoine Dupont runs the ball to score a try against Australia during a Vancouver Sevens rugby game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

After helping France win LA Sevens, Dupont has Olympic gold in mind

After helping France win the Los Angeles Sevens, Antoine Dupont has his sights firmly set on Olympic gold at the Paris Games.

Thomas Ramos of France , left, and Damian Penaud of France reacts after Scotland scored a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

France going backward and coach Galthié seems unable to stop the slide in Six Nations

France’s rugby team is going backward and coach Fabien Galthié seems unable to stop the slide. It’s difficult to understand how Les Tricolores have gone from Rugby World Cup co-favorites to Six Nations also-rans inside six months.

France men, New Zealand women win finals at L.A. Sevens

France has beaten an injury-hit Great Britain 21-0 in the men’s final of the Los Angeles Sevens to claim its first title in the rugby sevens World Series in 19 years.

Sea Eagles Reuben Garrick, centre, celebrates after scoring a try during the opening match of the NRL between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Sea Eagles, Roosters get wins in Australia’s National Rugby League season opener in Las Vegas

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters opened the National Rugby League season with contrasting wins as part of a doubleheader at Las Vegas’ Allegiant stadium.

New head coaches bring broad experience, backgrounds to Super Rugby

One of the most intriguing features of Super Rugby Pacific this season is the broad range of experience and influences various new head coaches bring to the competition.

13-man Moana Pasifika holds on to beat Fijian Drua 39-36 in Super Rugby Pacific

Moana Pasifika has held on with 13 men to beat the Fijian Drua 39-36 in the first match of the season between the Pacific Island teams in Super Rugby Pacific.

Perofeta, Sotutu spark Blues to a 37-29 win over the Highlanders in Super Rugby

Flyhalf Stephen Perofeta created a length-of-the-field try on halftime to spark the Auckland-based Blues to a 37-29 win over the Dunedin-based Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific.

FILE - Australia's Josh Addo-Carr celebrates at the end of the Rugby League World Cup final match between Australia and Samoa at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. When deciding whether to try to expand its impact to the United States, Australia's National Rugby League used a distinctly American sport as a model. A doubleheader Saturday night, March 2, 2024, at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, which hosted the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, will be televised nationally in the U.S. on FS1.(AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Australia’s National Rugby League following NFL model in trying to expand its footprint to the US

Four National Rugby League teams open their season Saturday night when the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles play the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters meet the Brisbane Broncos.

Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua to face off in Super Rugby’s ‘Super Weekend’

The two teams that put the Pacific into Super Rugby Pacific opened their seasons with losses last weekend and have a chance to atone when they meet in Melbourne on Saturday.

Fiji's Talei Qalo Wilson and United States's Sarah Levy vie for the ball as they are lifted by their teammates during a Vancouver Sevens rugby game, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

US gets more rugby exposure in rebranded Pacific Nations Cup to help prepare for hosting World Cups

World Rugby’s bid to increase the sport’s visibility in the United States ahead of hosting the men’s and women’s World Cups will see the country stage the grand final of a rebranded Pacific Nations Cup tournament.

France center Danty will miss rest of Six Nations after five-week ban

France center Jonathan Danty has been suspended for five weeks and will miss the rest of the Six Nations.