Ex-England flanker Shields to captain Wellington Hurricanes

Ex-England flanker Shields to captain Wellington Hurricanes

Ex-England flanker Brad Shields was on Wednesday named captain of the Wellington Hurricanes for the 2024 Super Rugby season in the absence of Ardie Savea. Shields, 32, inherits the skipper's armband from All Blacks loose forward Savea, who is playing for Kobe Steelers in Japan for a season. "I'm hugely excited and honoured to be leading the Hurricanes," Shields said in a statement. He played 103 games for the […]

January 31, 2024 9

Sport

Italy ‘in reconstruction’ after chastening World Cup, says Allan

Italy head into the Six Nations as rank outsiders following a dismal World Cup but fly-half Tommaso Allan believes they have the talent to turn things around as they prepare to kick off against England in Rome on Saturday. "I think we're capable of doing well in the tournament this year," he told AFP. "We have some really dangerous three-quarters and forwards who are good with the ball. […]

January 31, 2024 1

Sport

France eye Six Nations boost after World Cup despair

France hosted last year's World Cup having won over a nation backing Fabien Galthie's team for home glory and a first-ever Webb Ellis Cup. An opening, comprehensive 27-13 victory over New Zealand set alight patriotic fervour in the belief that skipper Antoine Dupont could lead France to victory on home soil. But those hopes were cruelly dashed at the quarter-final stage, eventual winners South Africa sealing a nail-biting […]

January 30, 2024

Sport

Racing’s Tedder learning from Kolisi ahead of Toulouse reunion

Racing 92's South African Tristan Tedder welcomes former club Toulouse in the French Top 14 on Sunday with Siya Kolisi offering words of wisdom for the playmaker in his eighth season in France. Tedder joined the record 22-time champions in 2016 before spells with Bayonne, Beziers and Perpignan. He then moved to the French capital at the start of the season, helping Racing to the number one spot in […]

January 26, 2024 1

Sport

New Zealander Schmidt confirmed as new Wallabies coach

Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt vowed to "build a way forward" for the Wallabies on Friday as officials confirmed he is taking over as coach to replace Eddie Jones. Jones acrimoniously quit in October after the team's calamitous World Cup campaign, just 10 months into a five-year contract, having won just two from nine Tests. He has since been hired by Japan. New Zealander Schmidt will coach the […]

January 19, 2024 3

Sport

Holders La Rochelle face ‘crucial’ Champions Cup week

Double Champions Cup winners La Rochelle are among a host of clubs battling for a place in the Champions Cup last 16 when they head to Sale in Pool 2 on Sunday in the final weekend of the group stage. The French club, who have won the last two editions, have claimed just one victory this campaign, hammering Leicester 45-12 last Sunday. Ronan O'Gara's outfit need just a draw […]

January 18, 2024 1

Sport

Alldritt named France’s Six Nations captain in Dupont’s absence

Gregory Alldritt will captain France in the Six Nations with regular skipper Antoine Dupont away on Olympic sevens duty, the French Rugby Federation announced on Wednesday. Aldritt faces a tough challenge in his first match in the role fronting up against last season's Grand Slam winners Ireland in Marseille on February 2. La Rochelle's powerful No 8 Alldritt has been a pivotal figure since Fabien Galthie took over as […]

January 17, 2024 6

Sport

Bulls wait anxiously on Wilco Louw injury diagnosis

The Vodacom Bulls will have an anxious wait on the injury to powerhouse tighthead prop Wilco Louw, who was injured in Saturday’s Investec Champions’ Cup win over Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate. Louw left the field clutching his shoulder and coach Jake White later confirmed it was an AC Joint injury that will be looked at when he gets back to Pretoria on Monday. Either way it seems very […]

January 15, 2024 9

Sport

Eddie Jones wants Japan to be ‘fastest in world’

Japan need to obey the rules of physics and become the "fastest team in the world" in order to compensate for their relatively small size, new rugby coach Eddie Jones said Monday. "The game is about momentum. And one of key laws of life is Newton's second law, which is momentum equals mass times velocity," Jones said in Tokyo. Japan "are always going to be on the small size […]

January 15, 2024 2