12:45 PM GMT Former dual-code England international Sam Burgess has said “individual egos and selfish players” caused the country’s early exit from the 2015 Rugby World Cup, rather than his controversial inclusion in head coach Stuart Lancaster’s squad. Burgess made the switch from rugby league to rugby union only months before the tournament, as England

2:48 AM GMT The first piece in the All Blacks coaching jumble has moved, making Steve Hansen’s looming decision New Zealand rugby’s hot topic at the start of southern hemisphere’s offseason. Hansen will make a call on his future in the coming weeks after the dust settles on the All Blacks’ northern tour, a five-game

10:41 PM GMT Jamie BraidwoodESPN Rassie Erasmus says he is using the Barbarians match against Argentina Saturday as an extra opportunity to prepare for next year’s Rugby World Cup. The South Africa head coach will be joined by 13 members of his Springboks squad as they represent the Baa-Baas against the Pumas at Twickenham, rounding

11:45 AM GMT Manu Tuilagi said his long-awaited return in England’s 37-18 victory over Australia Saturday felt like his first cap for his country. The England centre was a 69th-minute replacement for Henry Slade and the substitution was met with rapturous cheers from the Twickenham crowd. Tuilagi’s call-up from the bench marked his first international

11:18 PM GMT World Rugby’s awards night in Monaco turned green on Sunday as Ireland’s Johnny Sexton and Joe Schmidt led a treble of player, coach and team of the year triumphs. With Schmidt at the helm in the stands and fly-half Sexton pulling the strings on the pitch, Ireland won a Six Nations Grand

10:16 PM GMT Greg GrowdenESPN Rugby Close After more than 30 years with The Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media in Australia, Greg Growden now writes exclusively online for ESPN. Never afraid to step on toes, you can expect plenty of compelling insight from one of Australia’s most renowned writers. Great sporting teams have at

3:28 AM GMT The All Blacks will face Tonga in a home Test just two weeks before their bid to defend the Webb Ellis Cup begins next year. New Zealand Rugby announced the world champions will play the Ikale Tahi on September 7 in a pre-World Cup hit out in Hamilton. Both teams will leave

2:24 AM GMT England prop Kyle Sinckler ensured the Wallabies’ off-field dramas weren’t forgotten during their 37-18 Test defeat at Twickenham. “You’re all f…ing snitches anyway,” declared Sinckler as a scuffle broke out early in the second half. It was an apparent reference to the Wallabies’ leadership group informing coach Michael Cheika that veterans Kurtley

9:45 PM GMT Jamie BraidwoodESPN CARDIFF — World Cups aren’t won 12 months before the tournament, but statements can be made and in front of a raucous home crowd, Wales put away South Africa to definitively show that they have the strength, and depth, to challenge anyone in Japan next year. Wales notched up a

9:05 PM GMT Ireland ended a stellar year with the best record of any top-tier test side after a second-string side keen on making an impression ahead of next year’s World Cup scored eight tries to beat the United States 57-14. Following the high of last week’s triumph over New Zealand, the visit of the