2:09 PM GMT Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of Wales’ final autumn international against South Africa. Full-back Halfpenny suffered concussion in a collison with Australia’s Samu Kerevi earlier this month and was absent from last weekend’s thumping 74-24 win over Tonga. It had initially been hoped that the Scarlets man would return in time
Rugby
1:56 PM GMT England wing Chris Ashton will miss Saturday’s final autumn international against Australia after picking up a calf injury in the win over Japan. Ashton, who was recalled by England head coach Eddie Jones this autumn after a long spell in the international wilderness, limped out of the 35-15 victory over the Brave
10:38 AM GMT South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has been cleared to play against Wales this weekend after escaping sanction for an apparent headbutt on Scotland’s Peter Horne. Replays showed Kolisi appear to strike Horne with the back of his head in the 31st minute of the Springboks’ narrow 26-20 at BT Murrayfield on Saturday,
2:44 AM GMT Will Genia says the Wallabies are braced for their final match of 2018 against England to be a highly physical affair. The Melbourne Rebels halfback will notch up his 100th international appearance on Saturday (0200 Sunday AEDT) but said the only way to make the milestone a truly memorable occasion would be
11:33 PM GMT New Zealand players react ion disappointment at the final whistle of their 16-9 loss to Ireland in Dublin, 2018 Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images Steve Hansen remains committed to modifying how the All Blacks play even though it cost them in a humbling loss to Ireland. New Zealand coach Hansen says his
12:13 PM GMT Chris M Jones Conor O’Shea is determined to be the best-prepared foreign coach at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. The ground work has been set after a two-Test tour of the country in June and a recent fact-finding mission that replicated every journey, training camp and match day experience his
5:37 PM GMT Ireland have released six players who featured in Saturday’s historic win over world champions New Zealand to go back and play for their provinces, despite a last test of the year against the United States in Dublin on Saturday. Sean Cronin, Rob Kearney, Jordan Larmour, Kieran Marmion, Jack McGrath and James Ryan
3:56 PM GMT ESPN staff Wales will represent South Africa’s “most difficult opponent” of the November Tests when they host the Springboks on Saturday, says Rassie Erasmus. The Boks finish their four-match tour of Europe when they face Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a venue where they have not won since 2013. South
8:46 AM GMT South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has credited the Springboks’ improved poise in tight matches for their 26-20 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. Four of the Boks’ six losses this season have been by five points or fewer, but the team has turned the tables in recent weeks with a 29-26
9:22 PM GMT Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas has described how he was the victim of a hate crime because of his sexuality. In a video posted on social media, Thomas, appearing with bruising around his left eye and head, described how he was assaulted in Cardiff on Saturday night. Thomas, who revealed he