Aug 10, 2019 James O’Connor, you’re off to Japan. The former bad boy was given the perfect chance to prove his worth when handed his first Test start in six years in Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup showdown against New Zealand in Perth. O’Connor didn’t disappoint at outside centre, with his form particularly strong early when

2:39 AM BST The Wallabies only have to rewind four years for a reminder of how a good win can quickly turn sour as they look ahead to the Bledisloe Cup decider. The Australians opened the door to Bledisloe Cup glory, which they haven’t tasted for 17 years, with a crushing 47-26 win over the

12:40 AM ET A Handre Pollard-inspired South Africa warmed up for the World Cup in superb style by beating Argentina 46-13 in the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship in Salta on Saturday to claim their first major international trophy in a decade. Flyhalf Pollard scored two of South Africa’s five tries, five penalties and three conversions

4:01 PM BST Scott Barrett could miss the start of the World Cup after becoming only the fourth New Zealand international ever to be sent off during a Test, with the lock receiving a red card in his nation’s 47-26 loss to Australia in Perth Saturday. French referee Jerome Garces deemed that Barrett had committed

9:51 AM BST Japan overpowered a dogged United States 34-20 to win the Pacific Nations Cup in Suva on Saturday and enjoy a timely confidence boost six weeks out from hosting the World Cup. Captain Michael Leitch scored a try in each half, with winger Kenki Fukuoka and fullback Ryohei Yamanaka also crossing to give

11:35 AM BST Tackles above the waist will be banned at the 2023 Rugby World Cup if a trial of new safety-focused laws are successful, World Rugby have announced. Six new closed trials, including a reduction in the legal tackle height, have been approved by World Rugby’s executive committee, with tackling the main focus of

11:19 AM BST England have handed debuts to scrum-half Willi Heinz and winger Ruaridh McConnochie for their opening Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday. Wales have named a strong team, headlined by captain Alun Wyn Jones who will become the country’s most capped rugby player when he plays in his

5:27 AM BST Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills running back Christian Wade, an England native and former rugby star who was allocated to the Bills via the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, made a splash in his NFL debut. Wade scored a 65-yard touchdown on his first and only carry in the

8:21 AM BST All Blacks coach Steve Hansen believes Kieran Read, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea are New Zealand’s three best loose forwards and is keen to see the trio take on Australia after naming them as his starting back row for Saturday’s test in Perth. While skipper Read has been New Zealand’s first choice

7:21 AM BST Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has given director of rugby Scott Johnson a glowing endorsement, saying he has made a “huge impact” on the Wallabies in his first six months in the job. Johnson was brought in at the start of this year to oversee Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in a desperate