Rugby – Worldwide Sports News

September 10, 2026

World Rugby floats plans for Six Nations match in US but England unlikely to participate

Governing body floating staging Ireland v Italy in US
World Rugby eyes commercial value in American fixtures

World Rugby wants a Six Nations match to be staged in the US and has offered financial incentives to the unions to do so – but England have effectively ruled themselves out on the grounds that fixtures at Twickenham are too lucrative.

The US will stage the 2031 World Cup and World Rugby is seeking to capitalise commercially despite mounting fears over the parlous state of rugby union in the host country. As a result, the governing body is desperate to raise interest in the sport’s profile by staging high-profile matches Stateside, with Baltimore hosting the fourth Test between South Africa and New Zealand on Saturday.

September 9, 2026

England to extend Borthwick contract as Pollock closes on £400,000 Northampton deal

RFU eager to avoid uncertainty heading into World Cup
Lloyds Bank to pay £5m a year for logo on back of jerseys

Steve Borthwick will be handed a contract extension until after the 2028 Six Nations, giving the Rugby Football Union time to identify his successor if England flop at the World Cup next year.

The RFU’s move is designed to avoid uncertainty heading into the tournament but stops short of backing Borthwick in the long term.

September 8, 2026

England coaches tell Lawes and Marchant they need to prove themselves in Prem

Pair have joined Sale after spells in France
Duo last played for England at 2023 World Cup

Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant have been warned they must go “over and above” the performances of their rivals in the first five weeks of the new season to earn England recalls this autumn.

Lawes, 37, and the 30-year-old Marchant have both joined Sale this summer after spells in France and stated their ambition to resurrect their international careers, having last represented England at the 2023 World Cup.

September 8, 2026

Table-topping Wigan hit ominous form at season’s sharp end in pursuit of treble

The Super League leaders are ahead of the pack for the first time since March with the playoffs in view

September is upon us and the business end of the Super League season is here – but if you squinted your eyes on Saturday evening as Wigan Warriors waltzed their way towards another trophy, you would have been forgiven for thinking we were already in October watching the eventual champions in the grand final.

Matt Peet’s team have, for the most part during his five years in charge, made it their business to flex their muscles when it matters most. A ninth trophy within that period is now tantalisingly within reach, as victory against Catalans on Friday would confirm the League Leaders’ Shield and leg two of what could be a domestic treble in 2026.

September 7, 2026

Sale’s Courtney Lawes ‘not worried about legacy’ in drive to make England return

Lawes is back in the Prem after two years in France and has unfinished business at international level

Courtney Lawes was not expecting to be named in Steve Borthwick’s pre‑season England squad over the weekend. While the 37-year-old has made clear that his return to the Prem with Sale Sharks is in no small part down to his ambition to feature in a fifth World Cup next year, much like the national head coach Lawes favours action rather than words.

Borthwick has explained to players such as Lawes, his fellow Sale arrival Joe Marchant and Newcastle’s new No 8 Hoskins Sotutu that in order to achieve England selection they must prove themselves against the players they are now competing with in the Prem.

September 7, 2026

Wallabies’ Carter Gordon set for stint on sidelines after breaking leg in latest injury blow

Flyhalf sustains injury in weekend’s draw with Argentina
Expected to miss Springboks Test and Bledisloe Cup series

The Wallabies are bracing to be without first-choice playmaker Carter Gordon for the Bledisloe Cup and a clash with world champions South Africa in the latest injury blow for the flyhalf.

Gordon fell to the ground in agony after attacking the line late in the weekend’s 28-28 draw with Argentina in Mendoza.

September 6, 2026

‘It was tough to be Jonah Lomu’: new film sheds light on late All Blacks hero

New Zealand great made his name at 1995 Rugby World Cup but rapid rise to fame took a toll as his health worsened

Making a film about Jonah Lomu’s life was never going to thrill everyone. The big man’s widow, Nadene, took legal action in an unsuccessful attempt to block the project and declined to be involved. You can’t imagine Mike Catt being overly delighted either. Even 31 years later, the brutal footage of Lomu running straight over the top of England’s full-back in the 1995 World Cup semi-final in Cape Town almost merits an 18 certificate on its own.

Happily, the makers of Lomu went ahead regardless and have managed to shine a fresh light on the biggest rugby phenomenon in history. There was always way more to Jonah’s story than a huge pair of thighs and here it is, laid out in a manner that is thought-provoking, affecting and wincingly nostalgic. As the former All Blacks doctor John Mayhew puts it: “I’m disappointed he didn’t have the life he deserved to have. I wonder, even [with] the magnificent gifts he had, whether he was ever truly happy.”

September 5, 2026

Wallabies denied historic sweep in chaotic finish as 13-man Pumas survive late thriller

The Wallabies have been denied a historic sweep of Argentina after a chaotic finish in Mendoza saw Australia and the Pumas play out a thrilling 28-28 draw.

September 5, 2026September 6, 2026

Argentina 28-28 Australia: rugby union second Test – as it happened

Australia secure series win in Argentina for first time in history after an eight-try slugfest ends in a draw

It’s not a packed house unfortunately.

Perhaps its economic reasons, perhaps it’s a sign of the sport’s popularity, or perhaps it’s because Australia aren’t a major draw.

September 5, 2026

Kriel and Marx tries help South Africa power past All Blacks to take series lead

South Africa 29-24 New Zealand
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea out of final Test

There have been moments over the past couple of weeks that have made us question South Africa’s status as the standard bearers in world rugby. After this helter-skelter third Test victory that ensures they cannot lose the series, we have an emphatic answer. The Springboks’ power is unrivalled. The All Blacks’ panache has taken them mightily close but South Africa remain on their perch.

A consolation score for New Zealand at the death rescued some pride but flattered the All Blacks – and afterwards it was confirmed that their captain Ardie Savea will miss the final Test. A second-half masterclass from the Boks, the relentless kind that leaves even opponents as worthy as these suffocated, gasping for air, confirms what was taken as read before this series started – South Africa remain the hot favourites for next year’s World Cup.

September 5, 2026September 5, 2026

South Africa 29-24 New Zealand: rugby union third Test – as it happened

South Africa produce epic second-half performance in comeback win to take a 2-1 series lead over the All Blacks

Anthems done.

A great rendition of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. But does every second person in the stands need to film themselves singing it? Am I just old? A hater? Just live in the moment guys!

September 4, 2026

Premier League, Italian GP, WSL and US Open tennis – follow with us

Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports

September 4, 2026

‘Part of the job, isn’t it?’ Noah Caluori on pain, pressure and second-season syndrome

The Saracens wing is focused on becoming more disciplined and says that he is only going to get better after last term’s breakthrough

Noah Caluori is addressing the dangers of second-season syndrome as he sets about charting a path to England’s World Cup squad next year and it soon becomes apparent he has one clear advantage. Twelve months ago he was an unknown quantity, now opponents will see him coming, but Caluori is hoping playing without pain can ensure he soars to new heights.

What made the 19-year-old’s stratospheric rise last season all the more impressive was that Caluori played with a debilitating wrist injury for much of it. That he still ended his first Prem season as joint top try-scorer and won his first two England caps over the summer demonstrates a resilience in someone who has made things look so easy in his short career to date.

September 3, 2026

South African airline behind low-level flyby stunt cancels repeat display

Forecast of unfavourable weather cited as reason
Aircraft passed less than ‌50 feet above stadium

The South African airline Airlink has cancelled a planned flypast before Saturday’s Springboks-All ⁠Blacks rugby Test as the country’s aviation regulator reviews a similar display conducted by the airline last ⁠week.

Airlink said on ⁠Wednesday it had withdrawn its application for a formation flyby ahead of the Rugby Championship clash at Johannesburg’s ⁠FNB Stadium, citing forecasts of unfavourable weather. The South African civil aviation authority (SACAA) is conducting a compliance verification of ⁠the airline’s 29 August flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium.

September 2, 2026

Maro Itoje ready to ‘come back better’ for England after taking mini sabbatical

Itoje rested for Nations Championship games in July
Captain has had a rare full pre-season with Saracens

Maro Itoje says it felt “very weird” watching England play from afar this summer but he believes more top players should consider taking a break to prolong their careers. The British & Irish Lions captain was rested for his country’s three Nations Championship games in July and is now feeling the benefits of “taking a breath” after an intense year on and off the field.

In addition to the burden of leadership for club and country, Itoje also lost his mother last year and, with the 2027 World Cup looming, the national coach, Steve Borthwick, offered his captain the chance of a mini-sabbatical. He has emerged fit, healthy and mentally rested for the season ahead having enjoyed his first full club pre-season at Saracens since 2014.