4:01 PM BST England will be without Billy Vunipola for the autumn internationals after he fractured his arm in Saracens’ win over Glasgow Warriors at the weekend. This is now the third time the No.8 has suffered this injury in 10 months, though on the two previous occasions it was in his right arm. The

10:56 AM BST A storming 20-metre run chasing a loose ball in slippery conditions last Friday was all it took for Dane Coles to convince All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to include the hooker in his squad for the end-of-season tour. The 31-year-old front row forward had not played since rupturing knee ligaments against France

9:58 AM BST There has been no change to the All Blacks’ selection policy of choosing only New Zealand-based players despite the recall of Matt Todd, who is currently signed to a short-term contract in Japan, coach Steve Hansen has said. The 30-year-old Todd, who has committed to New Zealand rugby for 2019, had initially

1:56 AM BST ESPN staff All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has included uncapped Blues back-rower Dalton Papali’i among a 32-man squad for the five-Test tour of Japan and Europe. Papali’I has been rewarded for a stellar Mitre 10 Cup season with a rejuvenated Auckland side who will contest a semifinal against Wellington this weekend. The

6:24 AM BST Back-rower Lukhan Tui has announced he will not return from a break to play on the Wallabies’ spring tour of Europe. Tui stood down after Australia’s defeat last month to Argentina in September, after losing his stepfather in the week of the game. The All Blacks cemented their place at the top

3:09 PM BST Schalk Brits is on the brink of return to Super Rugby with the Stormers next year as he bids to make the Springboks team for the Rugby World Cup in Japan. The 37-year-old called time on his career in May, after clinching a fourth Premiership Rugby crown with Saracens, to go with

3:22 PM BST Nathan Hughes will learn whether he can play any part in England’s November internationals when he faces a second disciplinary hearing on Oct. 17. The Wasps No. 8 was cited for punching during his side’s 35-21 defeat to Gloucester before appearing to land himself in further trouble when he tweeted “what a

Oct 12, 2018 Jamie BraidwoodESPN Throughout his 15-year rugby career, Brian O’Driscoll had never been in a situation quite like this. Brought up a Catholic south of the border in the Republic, O’Driscoll joined Protestants and loyalists in attending a July 12 celebration in the small village of Loughall, Northern Ireland. His background immediately segregated

1:16 PM BST Western Province are assured of a home semifinal in the Currie Cup. But that’s all we know about the make-up of the semifinalists ahead of the final round of fixtures, with five teams in the running for the top four spots. On top of that, the top spot on the ladder and

12:33 PM BST England second row Joe Launchbury will miss the November international series after undergoing surgery for a knee injury. The Wasps lock, who has not played since mid-September, was expected to return to face Leinster in the Champions Cup this weekend. But Wasps have announced he will be out 10-12 weeks, meaning he