Sarah Rendell at Kingsholm    England FranceRed Roses set to face rivals New Zealand next weekendWhen it comes to England v France there is no such thing as a friendly. The Red Roses scrum half Natasha Hunt noted the irony in the buildup and the tense nature of the rivalry was on full display from kick off.There was a...

Gerard Meagher    Tobin joins as strength and conditioning coachEngland lost Walters, Tombleson and Jones this summerSteve Borthwick has made the first appointment to his depleted backroom staff following a summer of upheaval with Gloucester’s Dan Tobin joining as strength and conditioning coach.Borthwick lost the...

Sarah Rendell    The scrum half was devastated to not be selected in , but says the experience made her a better player Who knows if I would be sitting here going for the next one if I had reached that Rugby World Cup, says the Red Roses scrum half Natasha Mo Hunt on her bid to be part of England’s squad...

Martin Pengelly in Washington    Katherine Aversano is a historian of the game as well as a key player in the drive to establish Women’s Elite RugbyAs vice president of Women’s Elite Rugby, Katherine Aversano is part of a team working to launch the first US women’s professional rugby union league. On Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin...

Gerard Meagher    Centre targets return from surgery for autumn TestsProp Joe Marler denies Borthwick regime is unstable’Henry Slade is targeting an early return from shoulder surgery in an effort to play a key role in England’s autumn internationals and wants Steve Borthwick to stick with the ultra aggressive...

Gerard Meagher    Resignations of two coaches surprises Bill SweeneyChief executive denies unstable environment’ to blameThe Rugby Football Union has given its backing to Steve Borthwick after the sudden resignations of Felix Jones and Aled Walters with the chief executive, Bill Sweeney, refuting suggestions...

Gerard Meagher    New deal with clubs hands England coach more control, but he will need to win over doubters and resolve big questionsIn the Lock No bar a room in Twickenham’s east stand dedicated to second rows Steve Borthwick was conspicuous by his absence. English rugby’s power brokers had gathered to...

Martin Pengelly in Washington    Center who won Paris Olympic bronze joins cast including convicted con artist Anna Delvey for rd season of TV hitThe US Olympic rugby sevens star Ilona Maher will compete on Dancing With the Stars, ABC announced on Wednesday, continuing a remarkable run of publicity coups for the year old from...

Gerard Meagher    New season begins amid concern over whether club and country can cooperate in managing the welfare of playersEnglish rugby’s bold new era appears set to belatedly begin. Nearly months since the Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, bullishly said that English rugby was ...

Angus Fontaine    Victory over Argentina Australia’s first in the competition since could prove to be a turning point for Joe SchmidtLike fatherhood, it was messy yet inspired, with lots of errors and ill discipline, a few moments of pure comedy but also plenty of courage and commitment. As always, luck...

Angus Fontaine    Ben Donaldson’s after the siren kick gives Australia winVictory ends eight game losing streak in Rugby ChampionshipAustralia claimed their first major scalp under coach Joe Schmidt, defying rain and a raucous home crowd to upset World Cup semi finalists Argentina with a penalty goal...

Daniel Gallan    Wallabies get back to winning ways in Rugby Championship Ben Donaldson’s after the siren penalty goal seals winIntense passion from the Argentina players. They’re up for this. we’re seconds away from kick off now.Time for the anthems. The players are shivering My goodness it looks grim. Continue...

Reuters    South Africa New ZealandSix kicks for Feinberg Mngomezulu; late tries turn gameSouth Africa scored two late tries to come back from a point deficit and edge out New Zealand in a bruising Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park in Johannesburg that came close to matching the intensity...

Martin Pengelly in Washington    Eagles coach Scott Lawrence has picked college talent and crossovers from football and wrestling in his squad to face Canada and Japan in new eventThe Pacific Nations Cup, in which the US men kick off against Canada in Los Angeles on Saturday, is designed to improve playing standards among tier...

Martin Pengelly in Washington    Center who lit up Olympics cites threats to abortion rights and contraception in backing Democrat over Donald TrumpThe Democratic nominee for US president, Kamala Harris, picked up an endorsement from a key social media influencer: the Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher. I think it’s going to be cool...

Australian Associated Press    Backrower becomes fourth skipper of coach Joe Schmidt’s reignAustralia meet the Pumas in Rugby Championship in Buenos AiresBackrower Harry Wilson will become the th Wallabies captain with coach Joe Schmidt making five changes to his starting line up for the Argentina Test, as Australia chase...

Martin Pengelly in Washington    Olympic star turns Sports Illustrated swimsuit model after saying she’s targeting World Cup in England next yearIlona Maher, the US women’s center who lit up the Paris Olympics and became the most followed rugby player in the world, was hailed as a feminist trailblazer after becoming a Sports...

Gerard Meagher    Blitz defence expected to stay as replacement sought I loved working with Felix,’ says George FurbankSenior England players have spoken of their shock and disappointment after Felix Jones followed Aled Walters in quitting the national setup but have urged Steve Borthwick to stick with the...

Gerard Meagher    Steve Borthwick’s team is in chaos and the RFU should prioritise recruiting the rugby league legend whatever the costAt the Rugby Football Union they like a project. Planning for a successor to Eddie Jones was known as Project Everest while the Six Nations’ move to aggregate broadcasting rights...

Wendy Ide    Former rugby player Ed Jackson overcomes a devastating spinal injury to take on mountains in Polly Steele’s handsome if formulaic filmThe inspirational story of former professional rugby union player Ed Jackson, who suffered life changing injuries but found a new spiritual strength, is explored in...