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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Taniela Moa, a scrumhalf who almost was a New Zealand All Black but went on to play 21 times for Tonga, has died. He was 36.
Moa’s death was confirmed Thursday by the Tonga Rugby Union, which did not specify a cause.
Kathy Flores, the legendary rugby player, coach and leader of the women's sport in the U.S. who touched every generation of players and coaches for more than 40 years, has died. She was 66.
Nearly 300 former teammates, fellow coaches, former players and friends gathered Saturday for a virtual remembrance of Kathleen “Kathy” Flores, organized by the U.S.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Japan’s new-look professional rugby competition will launch next month with bold ambitions to win not only a domestic but a global audience, to attract the world’s best players and to expand the sport's foothold in Asia.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Rugby has appointed former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt to the All Blacks management team as a selector and technical analyst.
The 56-year-old Schmidt, who is New Zealand born, will replace former All Blacks flyhalf Grant Fox, who has been a selector since 2011.
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) — France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont was named World Rugby's men's player of the year on Friday and England lock Zoe Aldcroft won the women's award.
The stocky and explosively quick Dupont has been outstanding for France in the past two seasons, helping Les Tricolores become a competitive side once again under coach Fabien Galthie after years of mediocrity.
DUBLIN (AP) — Australia No. 8 Rob Valetini was banned for three matches for his head-high tackle of Wales lock Adam Beard.
Valetini collided heads and injured Beard last weekend in Cardiff. Beard failed a head assessment and needed 20 stitches around his right eyebrow.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Golf, cricket and rugby became the first major sports to be affected by the new COVID-19 variant on Friday, prompting fears of renewed travel restrictions and disrupted events just as they were returning to normal nearly two years into the pandemic.
DUBLIN (AP) — World Rugby has issued a written warning to Australia coach Dave Rennie for comments he has apologized for that were critical of the match officials after the Wallabies lost to Wales 29-28.
South Africa and Rassie Erasmus have withdrawn their intention to appeal against the sanctions imposed on him for making an hour-long video criticizing a referee during the series against the British and Irish Lions, and also issued an apology.
DUBLIN (AP) — World Rugby has relaxed its eligibility rules to allow national team players to switch countries as of January, the governing body announced Wednesday in what it described as a “landmark" change.
LONDON (AP) — The Rugby World Cup appears set to be heading back to Australia for 2027, leaving the United States as the front-runner to host the event in 2031.
Australia was awarded “preferred candidate” status by World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, on Wednesday.
Coach Mario Ledesma went into the rugby test against a rampant Ireland believing his Pumas could beat them in Dublin for the first time on Sunday.
After less than three minutes, he was even more heartened, after offloads by his side gave space for wing Mateo Carreras to step and surge clear for the opening try, a beauty.
PARIS (AP) — A moment of genius by Romain Ntamack overturned a New Zealand fightback and returned France on course to a stunning 40-25 victory in their gripping rugby test on Saturday.
The All Blacks responded to a wretched first half by punching in three tries in 12 minutes to trail France only 27-25 going into the last quarter.
LONDON (AP) — Marcus Smith kicked a penalty with 20 seconds remaining to give England a 27-26 win over world champion South Africa in a Twickenham classic on Saturday that followed a very different script to the teams' last meeting in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Captain Stuart Hogg became Scotland's sole record try-scorer as Japan was held out 29-20 before a thrilled crowd at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Hogg's 25th career touchdown took him clear of Ian Smith from the 1930s and Tony Stanger from the 1990s in a first half they finished a flattering 19-6 ahead.
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Gregor Townsend is preparing for Japan to unleash its best effort of the autumn against his Scotland on Saturday at Murrayfield.
It shouldn't be hard.
Since pushing Australia all the way before losing in Oita in late October, Japan has had a shabby tour of Europe.
Watching back the 2019 Rugby World Cup final hasn’t been part of Tom Curry’s preparations for England’s test match against the South Africa on Saturday.
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Beat Australia on Saturday and Wayne Pivac will deem Wales' autumn rugby series a success.
In order, New Zealand mastered the Welsh 54-16, South Africa edged them 23-18, and they were fortunate to beat Fiji 38-23.
PARIS (AP) — France must withstand the fury of a wounded New Zealand when they meet in their last rugby test of the year on Saturday, two years before facing off at the same venue in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup.
LONDON (AP) — England captain Owen Farrell could miss the start of the Six Nations because of an ankle injury sustained in the win over Australia on Saturday.
Farrell's club, Saracens, said Thursday he will undergo surgery and is “expected to be out for 10-12 weeks.”
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was banned Wednesday for two months and barred from attending test matches in an official role for 10 months after the sport’s governing body found him guilty of misconduct for a bizarre hour-long video in which he sat in front of a TV camera and criticized a referee during this year’s series against the British and Irish Lions.
LONDON (AP) — Captain Owen Farrell and hooker Jamie George have been sidelined by injuries from England's squad to face South Africa this weekend at Twickenham.
Farrell hurt an ankle and George a knee on Saturday while beating Australia 32-15.
DUBLIN (AP) — Two Australians feature on a four-man shortlist for World Rugby's player of the year award.
Australia captain Michael Hooper and teammate Samu Kerevi were joined by England lock Maro Itoje and scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, the first Frenchman nominated since 2012.
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton was ruled out of action for up to six weeks after he was injured on Saturday in the 29-20 home win over New Zealand.
Sexton twisted a knee and ankle late in the second half, the Irish Rugby Union said on Monday, and will miss the team's last autumn international this Sunday against Argentina at Lansdowne Road.
LONDON (AP) — England took its winning run over fierce rugby rival Australia to eight games in a 32-15 victory, a late breakaway try reflecting the home team’s dominance and the Wallabies’ error-strewn performance at Twickenham on Saturday.
TREVISO, Italy (AP) — Argentina ended a seven-match losing run after accounting for Italy 37-16 in a willing contest on Saturday.
A drought extended by coming up just short to France in Paris last weekend had the Pumas keen to disregard flashy thoughts and execute the basics.
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — South Africa scored 13 points in the first 15 minutes of the second half and then leaned on its dominant scrum and forward pack to subdue a spirited Scotland and win their rugby test 30-15 on Saturday.
PARIS (AP) — Fabien Galthie likes taking risks since taking charge of France two years ago. They tend to come off.
It should be no surprise that the free-thinking coach is trying another innovative move in switching Cameron Woki from flanker to lock, even against a very physical Georgia side on Sunday in Bordeaux.