Category: Rugby

Rugby News

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Ireland and France’s battle for alpha status reminds me of Arsenal v United | Ugo Monye

Saturday’s likely title decider in Six Nations renews an intense rivalry fuelled not by geography but the two teams’ brilliance

Saturday is a day that has been ringed in the calendar for months. The anticipation of France and Ireland renewing rivalries has been immense and what always shaped up as the likely decider for the championship will prove to be exactly that. Again. They have been the two most consistent, outstanding teams in the Six Nations for years now and they rarely disappoint when they lock horns.

It’s an intense rivalry but it isn’t fuelled by geographical reasons or historical antipathy. It is just a rivalry based on the brilliance of both sides, the two dominant teams battling out for the alpha status. It reminds me of Arsenal and Manchester United 20-25 years ago. Two teams separated from the rest of the pack by the quality they possess.

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Crabb hat-trick steers Thunder to win on the road

Thunder

Brython Thunder returned to winning ways with an impressive 17-33 victory against Glasgow Warriors in Round nine of the Celtic Challenge at the Scotstoun Stadium this afternoon. The Welsh side bounced back after last week’s defeat to Irish side Clovers with a big performance on the road in Scotland. Wales second row Gwen Crabb grabbed […]

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Canberra Raiders wallop New Zealand Warriors in NRL season opener in Las Vegas

  • Raiders 30-8 Warriors
  • Green Machine put rivals on notice with five-try demolition

Life without Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris is off to a great start for defending premiers Penrith, who wrapped up the NRL’s second Las Vegas visit with a thrilling 28-22 win over Cronulla.

The Panthers had their wobbles at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT) as they took their first steps without Luai and Fisher-Harris - undoubtedly the two most important players they have lost in five years as NRL heavyweights.

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Wigan hit the jackpot as Super League catches the eye on Las Vegas debut

Warrington Wolves were handily beaten in Nevada but the magic of Matt Peet’s Warriors side lit up Sin City

Today, Las Vegas: tomorrow, the world? Only in the weeks, months and years to come will we know the lasting impact of Super League’s first foray into the United States but, while so many things felt new, one thing was eerily familiar: the brilliance of Wigan Warriors.

Matt Peet’s side have made it their habit to bring out their best on the biggest stages and in Nevada, with more eyes on them than ever, they certainly did not wilt as they beat Warrington 48-24, from 42-0 up.

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Q&A: Elliot Dee

Elliot Dee

Name? Elliot Dee Position? Hooker What do your teammates call you? Shelby Go to coffee order? Double espresso What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Try and roll out of bed. First rugby memory? Training on the Welfare ground for Newbridge RFC U8s Are there any traditions or rituals you have before a […]

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Gwalia Lightning suffer title hopes setback

Maisie Dvies

Gwalia Lightning saw their title hopes falter after a 17-48 defeat to reigning champions and league leaders, Wolfhounds, in round nine of the Celtic Challenge at Ystrad Mynach this afternoon. Gwalia, unbeaten at home this season, found themselves pointless at half-time and down 39-0 after an impressive first half display by the Irish side. Replacement […]

The post Gwalia Lightning suffer title hopes setback appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

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15 Welsh players chasing glory in PWR semi-finals

There will be no fewer than 15 Welsh international players lining up for the four teams in the PWR semi-finals this weekend – and one coach! New Wales women’s head coach Sean Lynn will be trying to lead his Gloucester-Hartpury into a third straight final to make it a hat-trick of titles before he switches […]

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RFL warns clubs that planned coup will financially cripple the sport

  • Professional clubs want to oust RFL chair Simon Johnson
  • Governing body says any such move would breach rules

The Rugby Football League has warned clubs that an attempt to sideline the sport’s ­governing body and replace its chair could have ­“catastrophic financial ­consequences” after taking legal advice to stave off a planned revolt.

Rugby league’s professional clubs will assemble in March to ­consider a proposal put forward by the Super League club Leigh ­Leopards and Championship side Batley ­Bulldogs, which calls for the immediate removal of Simon Johnson, after a purported loss of confidence in the direction of the governing body.

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Viva Las Vegas: will ‘biggest game in British rugby league’ widen reach?

Wigan and Warrington meet as part of Sin City extravaganza and are hoping for same impact the NRL experienced

It started with a speculative email sent late at night almost a year ago but on Saturday evening, Kris Radlinski’s vision for Super League will become a reality live and in living colour in the bright lights of Las Vegas.

The Wigan Warriors CEO was at home, like so many others, watching the National Rugby League’s (NRL) inaugural venture into the United States at Allegiant Stadium just outside Las Vegas. His immediate thought: how does British rugby league muscle in on the opportunity? And so went the email that could potentially change the landscape of Super League for years to come: or at least, that is the tentative hope, anyway.

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‘We won and people are still upset’: Genge backs England after Calcutta Cup barbs

Slender victory against Scotland was met with criticism from former players but the prop believes free-flowing winning rugby is unrealistic

Ellis Genge has something to get off his chest. After a few pleasantries – his time off at the start of the week was a “nightmare” because his son has chicken pox – he soon finds his stride. The England prop cannot understand the negative reaction to last weekend’s one-point victory in the Calcutta Cup. England’s first win over Scotland in five years, and their second in a row in this year’s Six Nations, ensured they retain an outside chance of winning the title.

“It is difficult as a player to digest the fact that people were disappointed that we just won the Calcutta Cup back after five years,” Genge says. “We won the game and people are still upset about it. It blew my mind, to be honest. Ex-players, recently retired and long retired, and people from years and years ago, I just can’t believe how out of touch they are, the spiel that I’m reading from people saying how off it we are. We won two games on the bounce and you’re upset about it, I don’t get it. Let’s not be naive, you can feel that people were booing when we were playing. It’s the feeling at the moment, for whatever reason, it is the way it is.”

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Beck looking forward to Glasgow challenge

Jess Rogers

Brython Thunder hit the road to Scotland to face Glasgow Warriors in Round 9 of the Celtic Challenge at Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, on Saturday, March 1st (KO:3:45pm). The Welsh side will be looking to bounce back and build on their Celtic Challenge campaign against a Glasgow Warriors side only two points ahead of them in […]

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Daunting prospect awaits Gwalia Lightning

Maisie Davies

Gwalia Lightning return home to face the Celtic Challenge league leaders and reigning champions Wolfhounds in Round 9 at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday, March 1st (KO: Midday). The Welsh side sit third in the table behind Irish sides, Wolfhounds and Clovers, with only four points between the top three sides in the league and two […]

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Nathan Cleary condemns ‘sad’ Matildas criticism amid flying visit with Mary Fowler

  • Panthers star backs partner’s team after Marty Sheargold’s comments
  • Penrith face Cronulla Sharks in NRL gala in Las Vegas on Saturday

Nathan Cleary says it’s “sad” Mary Fowler’s Matildas are still targeted with “unnecessary” trolling after a radio host was widely condemned for on-air comments about Australia’s women’s football team.

Marty Sheargold and Triple M mutually agreed to part ways earlier this week after a tirade during which he likened the Matildas to “year 10 girls” and said he would rather “hammer a nail through the head of [his] penis” than watch their Asian Cup campaign.

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Jones named Wales captain for Women’s Six Nations campaign

Hannah Jones

Centre  Hannah Jones will captain Wales during the Women’s Six Nations 2025 Guinness campaign. Jones will be joined by vice-captains Keira Bevan and Alex Callender in a new on-field leadership team appointed by new Wales Head coach Sean Lynn. Jones has been capped by Wales 60-times and has been Wales captain since being appointed for […]

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