1:38 PM BST England international Anthony Watson is set to return to action after a 13-month absence, his club Bath have announced. Watson, 25, has been selected in the starting XV at full-back to face Sale Sharks on Friday in the Gallagher Premiership. The back has not featured for club or country since rupturing his

11:35 AM BST English Premiership side Sale Sharks have signed South Africa lock Lood de Jager on a three-year deal, the first of a number of Springbok players set to move to European clubs after the World Cup in Japan. De Jager, 26, will leave Pretoria-based Super Rugby side the Bulls either at the start

10:07 AM BST The Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed five anti-doping violations within both the professional and community game were discovered out of more than 800 tests conducted across all levels of rugby in England in the 2017-18 season. The programme carried out 739 tests within the professional game while 99 tests were conducted at

Apr 26, 2019 Sam Bruce Close ESPN Associate Editor Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPNscrum after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Andy Withers Close ESPN

7:20 AM BST Scott Johnson says he knows first-hand the importance of inclusiveness in rugby, explaining why Rugby Australia [RA] has his full support in their employment battle with Israel Folau. RA’s director of rugby Johnson revealed the role he played when former Wales fullback Gareth Thomas struggled with his sexuality 13 years ago, cementing

2:51 AM BST Japan need to find a replacement for competing in Super Rugby following Sunwolves’ expulsion if they are to become a major rugby power, former Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones has said. The Sunwolves, Japan’s representatives in Super Rugby, were told by the competition’s governing body SANZAAR in March that they would be

12:51 PM BST The Lions will be hunting another stunning upset, this time against the Crusaders, when they hit Christchurch for the final game of their Australasian tour. Meanwhile, the Waratahs will experience Bankwest Stadium for the first time when they face the Sharks on Saturday night. (Note: All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time)

12:51 AM BST Craig Dowd Close Craig Dowd played 60 Tests for New Zealand between 1993 and 2000, including in two World Cups, and he was part of the All Blacks team that won their first series in South Africa in 1996. He played for the Blues and Auckland in New Zealand domestic rugby, and

4:49 AM BST Karmichael Hunt says he feels for Israel Folau but believes the Wallabies star’s absence could allow the NSW Waratahs to finally get some consistency in their backline. Folau faces a Rugby Australia (RA) code of conduct hearing early next month after his latest controversial social media posting. Like Folau, Hunt has fallen

2:27 AM BST Dan Carter would not be out of place in the All Blacks squad at the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year if selectors handed him a shock call-up to fill the gap left by the injured Damian McKenzie, former New Zealand coach Graham Henry has said. Utility back McKenzie was