Rugby

5:59 AM BST Former Wallabies star Quade Cooper won’t be able to sidestep any citizen application requirements with Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews steadfast on the rejection. Cooper says his application for Australian citizenship has repeatedly been knocked back despite playing 70 Tests. Born in Auckland, Cooper moved to Australia with his family aged

2:09 PM BST France on Tuesday night dished out multiple Test rugby lessons to a Wallabies team that continues to learn things the hard way, paving the way for a thrilling finale to the series in Brisbane this weekend. Denied a drought-breaking win on Australian soil last week, the French were thoroughly deserving of their

12:32 PM BST Ireland will host New Zealand in one of four international tests announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union for Andy Farrell’s squad in October and November. The Irish will face the All Blacks at Aviva Stadium on Nov. 13 for the first time since losing to the New Zealanders in the quarterfinals

6:09 PM BST South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and flyhalf Handre Pollard could both return to the squad after COVID-19 infections in time for the Springbok’s first test against the British & Irish Lions, South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus said on Monday. Both are among a group of six players who remained behind

1:39 PM BST The British & Irish Lions will make a decision on whether Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones will re-join the squad in South Africa in the next 24 hours after coach Warren Gatland described his recovery from a dislocated shoulder as “remarkable.” Jones has been training with Wales in the last few days

10:01 AM BST Warren Gatland has made 12 changes to the British & Irish Lions side that beat the Sharks 71-31 on Saturday, with Anthony Watson, Chris Harris and Dan Biggar the only players retained. “We’re pleased to have arrived in Cape Town as we near the halfway stage of the Series,” Gatland said in

10:49 AM BST South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has tested positive for the coronavirus, along with five other players in the squad, ahead of the three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions. The South African team will resume training on Sunday after six rounds of COVID-19 testing and a six-day preventative self-isolation period cleared

9:49 PM BST Hooker Ronan Kelleher grabbed four tries and Ireland capped eight new players as many of their younger fringe men seized the opportunity to impress in a 71-10 thrashing of the United States at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Having weathered a Japanese attacking blitz last week, Andy Farrell’s men were equally lethal

5:59 PM BST The British & Irish Lions have called up England’s Marcus Smith for the tour of South Africa as injury cover for Finn Russell, who is nursing an achilles problem, and the young flyhalf admits he is “shaking” at the prospect of realising a rugby dream. The Lions made the announcement as Smith

5:30 PM BST Debutant winger Adam Radwan and hooker Jamie Blamire, on his first start, both scored hat-tricks and it was a special day for flyhalf Marcus Smith as a shadow England team racked up 10 tries in a 70-14 demolition of Canada at Twickenham on Saturday. Joe Cokanasiga, who scored two last week, added

4:18 PM BST Wales missed a last-minute penalty to draw 20-20 with Argentina, who had been reduced to 14 men for most of the match on Saturday in the first of two tests at the Principality Stadium. Substitute flyhalf Jarrod Evans had a chance to win the game but went wide with his kick after

3:38 PM BST The British & Irish Lions touring party returned a negative set of COVID-19 tests on Friday allowing coach Warren Gatland to make 13 changes to the team facing the Cell C Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday after several days of disruption. Hooker Jamie George will captain the Lions’ third game on their

4:51 PM BST Christian Scotland-Williamson has rejoined professional rugby and signed for Harlequins after three years on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, the London club announced on Friday. The 28-year-old began his rugby career at Worcester Warriors but left in 2018 to pursue a move to the United States with the National Football League’s International

12:40 PM BST Scotland’s test against Georgia in Tbilisi next Saturday has been cancelled after their hosts reported six positive COVID-19 cases while in South Africa this week, officials confirmed. Georgia had been due to face the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg on Friday, but that match was called off after both camps reported positive

10:51 AM BST Lindsay du Plessis The British & Irish Lions will continue on their tour to South Africa as is, even in the face of coronavirus upheavals across three teams, says Lions tour director Ben Calveley. The Lions, who recorded their first COVID positive case on Wednesday, have seen one tour match reorganised already,

2:54 PM BST The British & Irish Lions will play back-to-back matches against the Cell C Sharks on Saturday, in replacement of the weekend’s original game against Vodacom Bulls which was postponed due to members of the South African team testing positive for COVID-19, the Lions announced on Thursday. Lions Rugby said the change is

11:53 AM BST Four more players will earn their first England caps this Saturday as coach Eddie Jones named his team to face Canada at Twickenham. Dan Kelly will play at inside centre, Adam Radwan at left wing, Harry Wells at lock, and No. 8 Alex Dombrandt, who has been knocking at the door for

9:55 AM BST Former Springboks head coach Heyneke Meyer has joined Major League Rugby team, Houston SaberCats, in the United States. He will be their director of rugby. Meyer will also be responsible for the SaberCats’ developmental squad, under-18 team and academy. “This is a very important time for the SaberCats organization. I am fully