Chalmers urges Scotland to learn French lessons as England await

Chalmers urges Scotland to learn French lessons as England await

Craig Chalmers has warned Scotland against becoming consumed with anger over the manner of their dramatic Six Nations defeat by France. Chalmers, a former Scotland fly-half, was as frustrated as any home fan at Murrayfield last Saturday when referee Nic Berry and television match official Brian MacNeice decided they had insufficient video evidence to award the Scots what would have been a match-winning try as replacement Sam Skinner appeared […]

February 14, 2024 7

Sport

Schmidt’s Australia to face Wales in Sydney in his first match

Joe Schmidt will get his reign as Wallabies coach underway against Wales in Sydney, their 2024 home schedule showed Friday, with Australia also hosting world champions South Africa twice this year. The former Ireland boss was appointed in January, replacing Eddie Jones after Australia's calamitous World Cup campaign. Jones won just two from nine Tests, with Schmidt looking to turn the corner against Warren Gatland's Wales at Allianz […]

February 9, 2024 1

Sport

Ex-Wallabies star Beale not guilty of sexual assault

Former Wallabies playmaker Kurtley Beale was found not guilty on Friday of sexually assaulting a woman at a Sydney pub, ending a trial that put his rugby career on ice. The 95-Test veteran was arrested a year ago and charged over an alleged incident in the bathroom of a pub, prompting his suspension from all forms of the game. A court spokeswoman told AFP on Friday that Beale had […]

February 9, 2024 3

Sport

Crusaders lose Halfpenny for months with chest injury

British and Irish Lions fullback is expected to miss most of the Super Rugby season with a chest injury, his new club Canterbury Crusaders said Thursday. Fullback Halfpenny damaged a pectoral muscle during his debut for the Super Rugby champions in a 21-19 defeat to Ireland's Munster on the New Zealand side's pre-season tour. Halfpenny needs surgery and will be sidelined for the next three to four months, the Crusaders […]

February 8, 2024 3

Sport

Six Nations blow for France as Willemse suspended for four weeks

France suffered another blow to their Six Nations hopes on Tuesday when lock Paul Willemse was suspended for four weeks over his sending-off in their loss to Ireland. The tournament's disciplinary committee imposed the punishment after Willemse received a yellow and then red card for high tackles in the 37-18 defeat in the opening Six Nations match in Marseille. The 31-year-old Willemse, who won his 32nd cap, was shown […]

February 7, 2024 3

Sport

Storm clouds gather around France coach Galthie ahead of Scots match

France head coach Fabien Galthie has enjoyed a long honeymoon but for the first time since he took over after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, there are rumblings about his stewardship following the 38-17 thumping by Ireland in the Six Nations. The second heaviest home defeat the French have suffered in the northern hemisphere rugby championships history -- England's 39-13 dismantling of the French in Paris in 1914 remains […]

February 6, 2024 5

Sport

Former England star Cipriani confirms retirement

Former England star Danny Cipriani confirmed his retirement from rugby union on Wednesday in a "sobering but also freeing moment". Cipriani, capped 16 times by England, had not played since 2022 and was already "semi-retired" before finally deciding to officially hang up his boots. The 36-year-old's colourful career included two spells at Wasps, as well as stints at Melbourne Rebels, Sale, Gloucester and Bath. "Even though I've been semi-retired. […]

February 1, 2024 8

Sport

New Zealand All Blacks to play Fiji in San Diego

The All Blacks will play a Test against Pacific neighbours Fiji in San Diego this July, the New Zealand Rugby 14-match schedule for 2024 revealed Thursday. Under new head coach Scott Robertson, New Zealand start their season with a two-match home Test series against England in Dunedin on July 6. The All Blacks face the English again a week later at Auckland's Eden Park, where New Zealand have […]

February 1, 2024 12

Sport

Ireland expect French ‘war of attrition’ in Six Nations opener

A strong-looking Ireland bidding for unprecedented back-to-back Grand Slams expect a "war of attrition" when they kick this season's Six Nations Championship off against France in Marseille on Friday. Europe's showpiece competition has tended to throw up some real arm wrestles in recent years and the showdown at the Stade Velodrome between two teams who were disappointed to have been knocked out at the quarter-finals of last year's […]

February 1, 2024 1