34 h. ago Rugby LIVE: Eddie Jones sends warning as huge ban issued for autumn internationals

Wales face four rugby nations in the upcoming autumn Tests with Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa visiting Cardiff over the next month

Events

54 h. ago Harry Brook: England T20 side’s bonding time in New Zealand made it worthwhile

A washout at Eden Park was the second abandonment of the three-match T20 series.

Politics

8 d. ago Wales' new coaching team in full and what's become of Gatland's axed lieutenants

Wales will face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in Cardiff, with incoming head coach Steve Tandy looking to get his new chapter off to a flying start

Politics

9 d. ago South Africa and New Zealand to collide in ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ as details for new tour confirmed

The two rivals will collide in four Tests in 2026 to kick off a new reciprocal touring agreement

Politics

9 d. ago Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus calls for major change to Rugby Championship as New Zealand series launches

Erasmus’s South Africa will take on New Zealand next year in a new series to replace the annual competition

Sport

1 week ago More rice, bigger chairs and reinforced toilets: sumo wrestling comes to London | Andy Bull

Royal Albert Hall to host Grand Sumo Tournament marking only the second time a full competition is held overseasThey play Major League Baseball at the Olympic Stadium, Tottenham’s ground is a second home for the National Football League, the National Basketball Association is staging a game at the 02 Arena next year, and South Africa just beat New Zealand in a rugby Test at Twickenham, but it’s been a long time since London has hosted anything on the scale of the Grand Sumo Tournament taking place at the Royal Albert Hall this week. Forty wrestlers have flown over from Japan to compete in it. That’s around six tons of elite athlete to be fed, watered, transported and supported.“We’ve actually had to source and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight,” says Matthew Todd, the Royal Albert Hall’s harassed director of programming. “Our usual standard is only 100kg.” They’ve also had to reinforce the toilets. “It’s the ones that are screwed into the wall which are the most ch...

Politics

1 week ago More rice, bigger chairs and reinforced toilets: sumo wrestling comes to London

Royal Albert Hall to host Grand Sumo Tournament marking only the second time a full competition is held overseasThey play Major League Baseball at the Olympic Stadium, Tottenham’s ground is a second home for the National Football League, the National Basketball Association is staging a game at the 02 Arena next year, and South Africa just beat New Zealand in a rugby Test at Twickenham, but it’s been a long time since London has hosted anything on the scale of the Grand Sumo Tournament taking place at the Royal Albert Hall this week. Forty wrestlers have flown over from Japan to compete in it. That’s around six tons of elite athlete to be fed, watered, transported and supported.“We’ve actually had to source and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight,” says Matthew Todd, the Royal Albert Hall’s harassed director of programming. “Our usual standard is only 100kg.” They’ve also had to reinforce the toilets. “It’s the ones that are screwed into the wall which are the most ch...

Politics

2 w. ago Rugby’s international heavyweights join forces to deliver big blow to R360

A statement released by all the Six Nations unions except Wales, plus South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, is scathing of the rebel competition.

Society

2 w. ago England among eight rugby nations who vow to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel Rugby 360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.Rugby 360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multi-city franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago England among eight rugby nations vowing to ban players in rebel R360 league

Statement says R360 players ineligible for internationalsIreland and Scotland among those to impose sanctionGlobal rugby’s biggest unions have gone on the attack against the rebel R360 organisation that is seeking to poach the game’s leading stars. England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy, along with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, made clear on Tuesday that players who join the proposed new competition will be ineligible for international selection and have confirmed they will not support the venture.R360’s backers, fronted by the former England international Mike Tindall, had been hoping to launch their multicity franchise tournament next year but have now been told to back off in no uncertain terms. “As a group of national rugby unions, we are urging extreme caution for players and support staff considering joining the proposed R360 competition,” read a statement issued by the world’s leading unions. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago What do the Springboks need to win the Rugby Championship? Title permutations explained

New Zealand and Australia still harbour hopes of overhauling the defending champions at the top of the table

Sport

last month Mitchell insists his previous final defeat can help England to Rugby World Cup glory

No changes in Red Roses 23 to face Canada on SaturdayMitchell accepts men’s team failed to handle 2019 final John Mitchell has learned from his experience of the men’s 2019 Rugby World Cup final and insists he has not made the same mistakes as coach of England’s women as they target the victory over Canada that will deliver Rugby World Cup glory.Mitchell admits that England’s men failed to “handle the emotional tank well” in 2019 when he was their defence coach. In stark contrast, his Red Roses finalists “have managed it”, he says as the head coach looks forward to Saturday’s showpiece at a sold-out Twickenham. Mitchell was one of Eddie Jones’s assistants when they lost to South Africa in Japan after beating New Zealand in the semi-final. Continue reading...

Sport