Sydney Roosters premiership player Sam Walker is reportedly open to a code switch with an eye on representing the Wallabies at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Steve Tandy warns Wales to be more ruthless after edgy win against Japan
Wales 28-21 Japan
Head coach wants more in New Zealand Test
Steve Tandy has admitted there is no hiding from his team’s below-par performance in their 28-21 home Nations Championship victory over Japan on Saturday where they looked flat at times and kept their opponents in the contest.
Wales recorded a bonus-point win as Josh Adams twice, Archie Griffin and Louis Rees-Zammit crossed, but they had to produce a desperate rearguard in the final moments to prevent Japan from an equalising score and a famous draw.
Continue reading...Scotland 21-43 New Zealand: Nations Championship rugby union – as it happened
An Ashman hat-trick wasn’t enough to end Scotland’s winless record against the All Blacks as New Zealand scored 19 unanswered second-half points in Edinburgh
Anthems done, now for the Haka, led by the skipper.
Just 10 minutes to go.
Continue reading...New Zealand down spirited Tonga to reach Rugby League World Cup final
New Zealand 34-10 Tonga
Kiwis come from behind and will face Australia or Samoa
What had been billed as one of the most intriguing Rugby League World Cup semi-finals in history was, in the end, a brutal exposé of the standards the world’s chasing nations must rise to in order to match Australia and New Zealand.
Few nations have as close a connection to the rise of international rugby league quite like the Kiwis and Tonga. After all, it was Jason Taumalolo’s decision to switch his international allegiance from New Zealand to the Mate Ma’a in 2017 which lit the touchpaper for the rise of nations such as Samoa and Tonga, leading to a plethora of the world’s best players following suit.
Continue reading...New Zealand reach Women’s Rugby League World Cup final as Waaka hat-trick sinks Samoa
Kiwi Ferns defeat Fetu Samoa 32-0 in semi-final
Centre Waaka scores three of Kiwi Ferns’ seven tries
A Stacey Waaka hat-trick has helped secure New Zealand their place in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final.
The Kiwi Ferns were rarely threatened in their 32-0 victory over an inexperienced Fetu Samoa in Newcastle, running away with it late with four tries in the final 12 minutes on Saturday afternoon. The dual international Waaka made the most of her opportunities, setting up New Zealand’s early first try, before securing three of her own. With her hat-trick, Waaka drew level with Australia winger Jaime Chapman atop the tournament’s try-scoring tally with nine.
Continue reading...England have been backed into a corner – it should bring out their best against Australia | Ugo Monye
Maro Itoje must make sure his side’s emotions do not boil over and the breakdown battle will be pivotal
England are riled up, they feel backed into a corner and if history shows us anything, it is that they tend to perform when their backs are against the wall. It’s a very English trait and Steve Borthwick’s tenure has been punctuated with performances when his side feel as though they have a point to prove. The players certainly have that as they begin their autumn campaign against Australia.
It actually makes me more confident in an England victory. They will have a siege mentality, just as they did against France in the Six Nations – they might not have won that match but it was the best performance of the campaign by some distance. They will want to put on a real show of unity and that can have a galvanising effect. I was nervous about this fixture at the start of the week; I’m less so now.
Continue reading...Australia need a way to turn moments into momentum to revive spirits
The Wallabies have a squad capable of magic but doubts remain over whether their talents can be knitted into a great team
There are moments when Australia look like a team that can take on the world. Moments when they’re trailing by two in the 83rd minute at Twickenham and all of a sudden Len Ikitau has snapped an underhand pass through to Max Jorgensen and he’s haring down the wing to score in the corner. Moments when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has ripped his way around Tom Curry, inside Bundee Aki, and over Tadhg Beirne, to send Tom Wright racing into the empty space of the British and Irish Lions backfield. Moments when they’re down to 11 men and defending a four-point lead with five to play against the Springboks, and somehow come out of it with a win.
And then there’s the rest of it. There’s never yet been a Wallabies team that didn’t have these flickers and sparks of ability in them, but it has been a long time since there has been one that could do it often enough, for long enough to win, and then all over again in the next Test and the one after. They lost all four Tests on tour in Europe last autumn, and two more in the summer besides. Then they went on an unbeaten run through six more against Italy, Japan, Argentina and South Africa before being knocked on to their backsides by the All Blacks in back-to-back defeats in the Bledisloe Cup, 31 points one week, 22 the next.
Continue reading...Injury crises and Borthwick under scrutiny: it’s that time of year again for England rugby
Sunday’s hosts need to stop looking for excuses and focus on what they can control to kick off the Nations Championsip against battle-hardened Australia
Several things are increasingly guaranteed from an English rugby perspective around this time of year. Bang on cue the injury news and the weather both start to worsen. Cracks in the relationship between the players and their head coach, in this case Steve Borthwick, begin to surface. And as the crowds stream up from Twickenham railway station past the biltong and burger stalls, no one has much idea what to expect.
This year it has been the same old story. Particularly on the injury front. If Tom Curry, Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland had not all been hurt on the Bagshot training pitch, all three would probably be in England’s matchday 23. With Guy Pepper, Benhard van Rensburg, Sam Underhill, Kepu Tuipulotu and Chandler Cunningham-South also out of the running, the squad is not quite as fizzing with energy and dynamism as it might be.
Continue reading...Fin Smith fit to face Australia as Ben Curry replaces injured twin Tom in England line-up
Maro Itoje captains England after missing summer Tests
Concerns Tom Curry may miss all Nations Championship
Fin Smith has successfully come through his final fitness Test to be named at fly-half for England’s autumn opener against Australia while Ben Curry is selected at openside flanker for the first time since the summer of 2025.
Steve Borthwick has made four changes to the side that beat Argentina in July with George Furbank also coming in at fullback, Maro Itoje returning to captain the side and Fin Baxter getting the nod at loosehead prop. The Exeter back-row Greg Fisilau is in line for a debut from the bench.
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: red cards, records, retirement and relegation
Have you followed the big stories in football, rugby league, tennis, cricket, rugby union, Formula One and athletics?
Continue reading...Tom Curry a major injury doubt for England with twin Ben poised to step up against Australia
Tom Curry injured during training on Wednesday
Brother Ben has not played for England since 2025
Tom Curry has emerged as a major doubt for England’s autumn opener against Australia on Sunday, handing Steve Borthwick a huge blow before a crucial November campaign, with twin brother Ben leading the race to start at openside flanker.
It is understood that Tom Curry sustained his latest injury during Wednesday’s full bore training session, throwing Borthwick’s plans for his back-row configuration into disarray. Borthwick will finalise his team selection before announcing it on Friday afternoon but as things stand, Ben is in pole position to wear the No7 jersey.
Continue reading...Borthwick given RFU backing for World Cup even if England flop in Nations Championship
RFU chief Bill Sweeney offers full support to Borthwick
England boosted by fly-half Fin Smith returning to training
Steve Borthwick has been given the Rugby Football Union’s unequivocal backing to lead England into next year’s World Cup even if the side flop this autumn.
In September Borthwick’s contract was extended to after the 2028 Six Nations, despite England’s worst ever Six Nations performance this year, to avoid speculation in the buildup to next year’s tournament. But the head coach remains under pressure on the back of five defeats in the last seven matches.
Continue reading...England’s Fin Smith facing make-or-break fitness test before Australia clash
Smith’s calf injury to be tested in training on Wednesday
Alex Mitchell ruled out of Nations Championship finals
Fin Smith faces a make-or-break training session on Wednesday to prove his fitness for the No 10 jersey in England’s autumn opener against Australia on Sunday, amid cautious optimism the Northampton playmaker will come through unscathed.
Smith sustained a calf injury in Northampton’s derby defeat by Leicester last month and the England head coach, Steve Borthwick, has been sweating on his fitness ever since. Smith’s Northampton half-back partner, Alex Mitchell, meanwhile, has been ruled out of England’s entire autumn campaign owing to his latest hamstring injury.
Continue reading...Reece Walsh edges out Tedesco in Australia’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final team
Veteran full-back named on bench for Kangaroos’ clash with Samoa
Kayln Ponga in New Zealand’s extended squad to face Tonga
Reece Walsh and Kayln Ponga are on track to resume their compelling rivalry after two huge coach calls ahead of the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Walsh on Tuesday retained the Australian No 1 jumper ahead of James Tedesco for the Kangaroos’ semi-final against Samoa in Sydney on Sunday.
Continue reading...Alex Mitchell out of Nations Championship opener in fresh England injury blow
Scrum-half out of game against Australia on Sunday
Wallabies match followed by New Zealand and Japan
The Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England’s November opener against Australia on Sunday, with Bristol’s Harry Randall and Bath’s Ben Spencer called into the squad named by the head coach, Steve Borthwick.
Mitchell, established as the first‑choice No 9 under Borthwick, damaged a hamstring in Northampton’s Prem win against Gloucester on Saturday and will have a scan on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury.
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