insert_link Sport ‘Microscopic’ attention to details powers Ireland, says Nienaber Microscopic attention to details has helped turn Ireland into a rugby powerhouse, says former World Cup-winning South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber ahead of a series between the teams. "The amount of detail they go into is incredible," said the coach who quit the Springboks after the 2023 World Cup final triumph over New Zealand and joined Irish provincial giants Leinster. "It is microscopic. I did not do […] today3 July, 2024
insert_link Sport BOKS v IRELAND: The playing field is more level than before Ireland will be coming to altitude and crossing the equator but the eagerly anticipated two-game series against the world champion Springboks that starts with the first test in Pretoria on Saturday has a much more level playing field than has been the case for past incoming tours. While England and Wales will be starting their respective series against New Zealand and Australia in the Antipodes at the end of […] today2 July, 2024
insert_link Sport Veteran Wallaby Beale has ‘fire in belly’ after recall Veteran Kurtley Beale said Monday he still had "fire in the belly" and wanted to help propel Australia back to the top after completing a remarkable comeback to the Wallabies fold. The 35-year-old fullback has been capped 95 times, but not since 2021. He was arrested in January 2023 on sexual assault charges and suspended from all forms of the game, missing out on playing at a fourth […] today24 June, 2024
insert_link Sport Jones names inexperienced Japan side to face England Japan head coach Eddie Jones named four uncapped players in an inexperienced starting line-up to face his former team England in Saturday's Test in Tokyo. The new faces include a university student in full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki, as Jones prepares for a battle of wits with his former assistant Steve Borthwick, now England head coach. For his first match in charge in his second spell with Japan, Jones retains […] today20 June, 2024
insert_link Sport New kids on the block for World Cup winners South Africa against Wales Rugby World Cup winners South Africa have included four uncapped players in the matchday 23 for a one-off Test against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. Winger Edwill van der Merwe and fly-half Jordan Hendrikse, both from the Johannesburg-based Lions, will start the Springboks' first outing since winning the World Cup in October. Utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and flanker Ben-Jason Dixon, teammates at the Stormers in Cape Town, start […] today20 June, 2024
insert_link Sport Kolisi challenges Racing to be ‘on point’ in Top 14 play off Former South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said his Racing 92 side have to be "on point" in Sunday's French Top 14 play off at an equally star-studded Bordeaux-Begles. Racing edged into the knock-out stages last weekend based on their head-to-head results with seventh-placed Castres before a potential semi-final against Parisian rivals Stade Francais. Kolisi's outfit, which includes leading names such as France centre Gael Fickou and Fiji back […] today14 June, 2024
insert_link Sport Wallabies fly-half Gordon switches to rugby league Australian fly-half Carter Gordon said Wednesday he will join rugby league club the Gold Coast Titans next year on a two-year deal in a blow to new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. The 23-year-old has been capped eight times and was seen as a long-term prospect, but will defect to the 13-man game after his debt-laden Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels was shut down. "I'm excited with the direction that […] today12 June, 2024
insert_link Sport New Zealand Rugby’s reform proposal rejected by unions A bid to reform New Zealand rugby's governing body was rejected by heartland unions Thursday, a move that threatens to throw the game into disarray in the rugby-mad nation. Months of bubbling discord reached a head at a special general meeting in the capital Wellington, where the country's 26 provincial unions turned their back on a suite of far-reaching reforms aimed at loosening their grip on New Zealand Rugby's […] today30 May, 2024
insert_link Sport Debt-laden Melbourne Rebels kicked out of Super Rugby Rugby Australia on Thursday rejected a consortium's bid to take over the debt-laden Melbourne Rebels and shut down the club after 14 seasons in Super Rugby. The team went into voluntary administration in January owing almost Aus$23 million (US$15 million) – a large portion of it tax debt. Rugby Australia stepped in to reclaim the club's playing licence while paying staff wages for the 2024 season, before a consortium […] today30 May, 2024
