3:34 AM BST The future of the SANZAAR alliance has been cast into further doubt after a leaked report suggested New Zealand’s Aratipu review will recommend the country pursues a trans-Tasman provincial competition from 2021. A Newshub report on Tuesday suggested the alliance could be broken up once and for all, leaving the national unions

1:18 PM BST The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced it is to cut 139 jobs in a bid to cope with a £107 million shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney announced the cost-cutting measures in a statement on Monday. “As you will be aware the long-term financial challenges are

12:46 PM BST Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw will be playing for Japanese Top League side NTT Shining Arcs when the season begins next year, the Chiba-based club said on Monday. Shining Arcs also announced the signing of Australia flanker Liam Gill and New Zealand hooker Anaru Rangi. 1 Related Scrumhalf Laidlaw won 76 test

Jun 29, 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa Round 3 saw wins for the Crusaders and Hurricanes, both teams getting the four points away from home. But they were vastly contrasting fixtures as the Crusaders and Highlanders thrilled under the roof in Dunedin, and the Chiefs and Highlanders failed to settle into any sort of a groove.

4:55 PM BST English Premiership clubs will take another step towards a restart after the players were permitted to resume close contact training next week, the Professional Game Board (PGB) said on Friday. The Premiership was suspended in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic. 1 Related The government gave permission for elite sport to

9:30 PM BST New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett will miss Super Rugby next year and play for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan’s Top League, but he will be available for the three-times world champions’ international programme, the Blues said on Friday. Barrett last year signed a four-year contract with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Blues

1:41 AM BST Former South Africa player Chiliboy Ralepelle has been handed a career-ending eight-year ban for doping, some 18 months after testing positive for a banned substance, South Africa’s Institute for Drug-free Sport said on Wednesday. It is a second drugs ban for the 33-year-old hooker, who served a two-year suspension between 2014 and

8:07 AM BST Leicester Tigers have confirmed England centre Manu Tuilagi has left the Gallagher Premiership club after opting not to sign a new contract on reduced terms in line with the league’s revised salary cap rules. Tuilagi is one of six players to have departed, alongside Kyle Eastmond, Telusa Veainu, Greg Batemen and Noel

6:00 AM BST Former All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter will make a return to his native Canterbury for his first rugby game in New Zealand since 2015 at the weekend, but will still wear the blue and white colours of their intense provincial rivals Auckland. The 38-year-old Carter, who spent his entire New Zealand professional

6:00 AM BST Crusaders captain Scott Barrett could be out of action for up to four months after undergoing foot surgery, his coach Scott Robertson said on Thursday. Robertson said it would be about 12-16 weeks before Barrett would be able to play again, which could also affect his chances of playing for the All