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Ireland’s style of play should have been further developed going into the World Cup, their governing body says. The Irish Rugby Football Union has published a review into the team’s performances in Japan, where they lost 46-14 to New Zealand in the last eight. IRFU performance director David Nucifora presented the review findings in Dublin. […]

Rugby Australia (RA) says it “did not back down” by reaching a financial settlement with player Israel Folau after he was sacked for making homophobic comments. The ex-Wallabies star sued RA for A$14m (£7.4m; $9.5m) after his contract was terminated in May. Folau, a Christian, argued he was a victim of religious discrimination. He was […]

Rugby player Israel Folau has reached a settlement with Rugby Australia (RA) over his controversial sacking for writing anti-gay posts on social media. The former Wallabies star had been suing RA for A$14m (£7.4m; $9.5m) after having his contract terminated in May. Folau, a Christian, argued that the termination of his contract was a case […]

The British and Irish Lions are set to play in front of a record crowd of almost 90,000 when they face world champions South Africa in the first Test of the 2021 tour. Soccer City in Soweto, Johannesburg, which staged the 2010 football World Cup final, will host the series opener. The second Test is […]

Former Scotland captain John Barclay is “unbelievably proud” to have “lived his boyhood dream” after announcing his international retirement. The 33-year-old Edinburgh forward won 76 caps and played in three World Cups. Barclay made his debut against New Zealand at Murrayfield in the 2007 World Cup and captained the side in his final appearance against […]

Bristol Bears full-back Charles Piutau has signed a new two-year contract with the Premiership club to run until 2022. The 28-year-old New Zealand international joined the club from Ulster on an initial two-year deal, which started in 2018-19. Piutau’s extended deal comes a week after Fiji winger Semi Radradra joined on a three-year deal from […]

Leicester back Jonah Holmes will be out until the early part of 2020 after partially tearing a medial collateral ligament in the Premiership defeat by Northampton last weekend. The Wales international, 27, will be out for about six weeks and joins Telusa Veainu, Jordon Olowofela and Sam Aspland-Robinson on the sidelines. Holmes has made nine […]

Bath captain Charlie Ewels and back row Zach Mercer will miss two to three months with knee injuries, though neither will require surgery. The England internationals suffered the injuries in Bath’s Champions Cup games against Ulster and Harlequins. Ewels, 24, and Mercer, 22, will wear knee braces before working with Bath’s performance department as they […]

Northampton Saints have signed Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi from Championship side Cornish Pirates. The 27-year-old played in all four of Fiji’s pool games at this year’s World Cup in Japan and can also play as a number eight. After joining the Pirates from Redruth in 2017, Matavesi had a spell on loan at French side […]

Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock has joined Ospreys on a short-term basis as a consultant to review rugby operations with the struggling region. Ruddock will “offer support and advice” to interim Ospreys coaches Matt Sherratt and Carl Hogg in December. “We are delighted to have Mike join us for a month,” Ospreys managing director Andrew […]