8:30 AM GMT England fell short in a pulsating Rugby World Cup final as they were beaten 34-31 by New Zealand in front of a record-breaking crowd at Eden Park. The Red Roses played much of the game with 14 players after Lydia Thompson’s early sending-off and could not avenge their defeat in the 2017

5:49 AM GMT France ran in five tries to thrash Canada 36-0 in the women’s World Cup third-place playoff at Eden Park on Saturday and secure the bronze medal for the seventh time in nine editions of the tournament. Winger Marine Menager scored two tries and lock Madoussou Fall, outstanding scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon and prop

4:15 PM GMT Former England and Newcastle Falcons centre Luther Burrell has said he won’t play rugby in England again after he said racism was “rife” in the sport and that racist “banter” was common among his teammates. The Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby apologised to Burrell earlier this year following an interview in

5:21 AM GMT AUCKLAND, New Zealand — “Aunty Cindy”, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has dropped into Black Ferns camp days out from the women’s Rugby World Cup final to treat some of the players to a dinner date and a cheeky social media appearance. Unable to attend the match on Saturday due to

12:34 PM GMT AUCKLAND, New Zealand — After six weeks of exciting, high-octane, entertaining rugby, the Rugby World Cup 2021 Final is finally upon us, with tournament favourites England set to face off against hosts New Zealand in a match that will determine who is the world’s best women’s rugby team. It’s been dubbed the

12:15 PM GMT Eddie Jones has made five changes for England’s match against Japan on Saturday, with Leicester’s Guy Porter getting the nod at outside centre while Northampton lock David Ribbans will make his Test debut. England will be looking to bounce back from their one-point defeat to Argentina on Sunday with Jones starting Jack

Nov 10, 2022 Barbarians coaches Ronan O’Gara and Scott Robertson have both expressed their interest in the England job when Eddie Jones leaves his role as boss after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Jones’ contract with England expires after the tournament in France, where his side will look to go one step further than the

1:30 AM GMT Fly-half Richie Mo’unga said New Zealand are prepared to face a “tough” Scotland side in Sunday’s Test at Murrayfield, where he could line up against his “favourite” number 10 Finn Russell. Russell had been axed from the Scotland squad by coach Gregor Townsend in the latest instalment of their frosty relationship, but

11:59 AM GMT French financial prosecutors (PNF) have been searching the headquarters of the organisers of the 2023 Rugby World Cup as part of a preliminary investigation into the management of the tournament, the PNF said on Wednesday. “In early October 2022, the PNF opened a preliminary investigation into charges of favouritism, influence peddling, corruption

2:42 AM GMT AUCKLAND, New Zealand — England have brushed aside criticism of their allegedly one-dimensional approach, with some players burying themselves in TikTok videos as others stand defiant behind a game plan that has seen them rumble into the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday. Sitting alongside the Black Ferns at