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61 items · General · Reports
Neutral venues a structural necessity at Nations Championship, says SANZAAR CEO
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris says neutral-venue hosting is a structural necessity in the Nations Championship, with Fiji playing all their 'home' July matches in Britain and Japan hosting Ireland in Australia.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for South Africa tour, confirms squad planning well advanced
Dave Rennie has ruled Richie Mo'unga out of the All Blacks' 44-man squad for the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series in South Africa, citing NZR eligibility rules, while confirming the tour squad and match-day planning is already well advanced.
Rees-Zammit admits rugby comeback has fallen short of expectations ahead of Springbok clash
Louis Rees-Zammit starts for Wales against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, admitting his return from the NFL has not gone as smoothly as he had hoped after a season disrupted by positional changes and a slow readjustment to Test rugby.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for Springboks series despite eligibility push
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Richie Mo'unga will not feature in New Zealand's four-test series against the Springboks in August. The 32-year-old fly-half remains ineligible under national union rules until October, having returned from three seasons in Japan. Mo'unga could only join the tour as an injury replacement.
Rennie rules out Mo'unga for Springboks series, confirms squad planning well advanced
Dave Rennie has ruled out Richie Mo'unga for the All Blacks' four-test series against the Springboks, confirming the fly-half's NZR eligibility won't be met until October. Rennie says provisional selections are already in place for all four tests, with the series opening in Johannesburg on August 22.
Mo'unga ruled out of Springboks series as Rennie confirms NZ Rugby stance holds
Dave Rennie has confirmed Richie Mo'unga will not tour South Africa in August, with NZ Rugby's eligibility policy remaining unchanged. Mo'unga can only join the squad as an injury replacement once his NPC commitments make him eligible.
Rennie plans Bomb Squad trial in South Africa as All Blacks target 6-2 bench split
Dave Rennie confirms the All Blacks will trial a 6-2 bench split during their South African tour, with provincial squads for the first four games already picked. Tupou Vaa'i's shift to blindside flanker for the Ireland Nations Championship fixture has also drawn attention as a potential Springbok-specific tactical move.
Barrett-Theron steps away from refereeing after breast cancer diagnosis
World record-holder Aimee Barrett-Theron, the most capped female referee in history with 52 tests, has stepped away from officiating after being diagnosed with treatable breast cancer, with the 39-year-old targeting a return to the field within months.
Drug watchdog defends SA rugby after latest positive test
SAIDS CEO Khalid Galan pushes back against suggestions that the latest positive doping test in SA rugby points to a wider systemic issue.
Argentina dismantle Wales 35-21 in San Juan to stay in Nations Championship hunt
Argentina beat Wales 35-21 in San Juan, crossing five times and securing a bonus point before half-time to bounce back from their opening-round loss to Scotland. South Africa and New Zealand remain the only unbeaten sides in the Southern Hemisphere table after two rounds.
Rennie weighing Savea workload ahead of Springbok Tests
Dave Rennie says Ardie Savea may not start New Zealand's provincial warm-up matches in South Africa in August, with the All Blacks managing their captain's workload ahead of four Tests against the Springboks.
Rankings permutations: How Scotland could reach a new high and what South Africa must avoid
World Rugby's Round Two ranking permutations show South Africa's top spot is safe barring a 15-point loss to Scotland, while a Springbok defeat combined with an All Blacks win over Italy would hand New Zealand first place. Scotland could reach a new high of fourth with a win in Pretoria and a France loss in Brisbane.
Borthwick flags aerial game and discipline after England's fifth straight defeat
Steve Borthwick says England's 45-21 defeat in Johannesburg — their fifth loss in a row — highlighted ongoing problems with discipline and the aerial contest, with eight yellow cards now collected in five matches. George Furbank requires emergency surgery and misses the rest of the July window.
Furbank withdrawn from England squad hours before Ellis Park clash
George Furbank has been withdrawn from England's matchday squad ahead of their Nations Championship clash against South Africa at Ellis Park.
Ox Nche braced for Ellis Park scrum battle as England seek World Cup redemption
Springbok loosehead Ox Nche expects a fierce set-piece contest when England visit Ellis Park on Saturday for the Nations Championship opener. The visitors boasted the Six Nations' best scrum success rate and carry motivation from their 2023 World Cup semi-final defeat, with Ellis Genge describing that loss as an 'open wound'. Captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick dismissed suggestions the Springboks are outright favourites despite their world number one ranking.
Nations Championship explained: Format, conferences and SA's July fixtures
The Nations Championship is a 12-team cross-hemisphere tournament contested across the July and November windows. South Africa open at home to England on 5 July, followed by Scotland at Loftus and Wales in Durban.
Koch scores but Barbarians fall short as Wales edge 33-31 thriller
Wales beat the Barbarians 33-31 in a ten-try Twickenham thriller, with Vincent Koch and a two-try George North among the Baabaas' scorers. Wales record back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2023 World Cup ahead of their Nations Championship campaign against Fiji, Argentina and the Springboks.
Nations Championship launches as rugby's most significant structural shift since professionalism
The Nations Championship, a SANZAAR-Six Nations joint venture featuring the world's 12 strongest teams, launches imminently with July's 'Super Saturdays' and a Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium in London in November — billed as the sport's biggest structural development since professionalism.
Lake confirmed as Wales captain for Nations Championship, including Springbok clash
Dewi Lake has been confirmed as Wales captain for the Nations Championship, including their match against South Africa, after Jac Morgan's shoulder injury opened the door during the November 2025 series.
Lake confirmed as Wales captain for Nations Championship campaign, including Springbok clash
Dewi Lake has been confirmed as Wales captain for the Nations Championship, including the clash with the Springboks, after edging out Jac Morgan following the flanker's shoulder injury in November 2025.