1:23 PM BST During Western Province’s second-last training session ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup final against the Sharks, they trained with Enrique Iglesias’ ‘Hero’ playing in the background. At first glance, it looked as if the Newlands staff were testing the sound system ahead of the match, and getting the levels right for the 4p.m.

12:00 AM BST A week on from David Pocock’s second John Eales Medal triumph, two things have become perfectly clear. The first is, the Wallabies will be absolutely no chance at the Rugby World Cup without him and, secondly, time is fast running out for administrators to improve player safety at the contact area. In

3:23 PM BST Western Province vs. Sharks, Newlands, 16:00 (SAT) Western Province won last year’s Currie Cup after fighting their way into the playoffs, and then causing upsets in the semifinals and final. But this year has been different, as they swept all before them in the round-robin stage. They then almost came unstuck in

12:16 PM BST The Rugby Football Union are looking to the Premiership in preparation of choosing a successor to England coach Eddie Jones, and are open to selecting a coach with no international experience. Jones’ in contracted with the RFU until 2021, but may leave the role earlier than planned if England disappoint at the

The All Blacks have sprung a major surprise by naming Damian McKenzie to start at fullback in the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Yokohama on Saturday. Coach Steve Hansen has shuffled Ben Smith to the wing to make room for the diminutive but exciting McKenzie, who had been employed primarily as a bench impact player

7:04 PM BST Christian Wade has retired from rugby union at the age of 27 after Wasps agreed to release him from his contract with the club. A tackle seen around the world propelled Christian Scotland-Williamson from rugby towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a challenge that even a 6-foot-9 master’s graduate is struggling with —

11:41 AM BST KweseESPN Staff Jean Deysel has announced his retirement from rugby due to injury. The former Springboks flanker, who joined Ulster from Guinness PRO14 rivals Munster in 2017, made his decision because of a “combination of lower-body injuries and various niggles”. Deysel, who won four caps for South Africa, the last against Australia

3:17 AM BST Israel Folau is set to play for Australia to the end of 2022 after reportedly signing a four-year contract extension with the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs. The 29-year-old superstar put pen to paper on the new deal some time ago, but Rugby Australia and Waratahs have kept the announcement under wraps, according

3:08 PM BST KweséESPN Staff Wilson Kopondo has been recalled to Kenya’s squad to contest the Rugby World Cup repechage in France. Kopondo, a former captain of the Simbas, has been absent since the Regal Hotels Cup of Nations 2017 in Hong Kong with what he told Citizen Digital in June were “injuries in different

11:30 AM BST Joe Schmidt will decide on whether to remain with Ireland beyond next year’s Rugby World Cup following the autumn internationals in November, as Irish Rugby Football Union bosses admitted the New Zealander is not indispensable to the future success of the team. The IRFU released its next five-year strategic plan Tuesday, which