Rugby

Latest Starling incident clouds future of Raiders hookers
Rugby

Police have charged Tom Starling over a pub altercation, with the latest incident clouding his future and that of fellow Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson. Starling was one of four people charged following an alleged intimidation incident over the weekend at the same venue he was involved in an incident last year. The 23-year-old was charged with threaten/cause injury to potential juror/witness and for offensive behaviour in a public place. Sources

‘It’s hard. He’s got kids’: All Blacks star Taylor breaks down during tribute to Wainui
Rugby

Senior All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor broke down in tears while paying tribute to winger Sean Wainui, who died in a car crash on Monday. Taylor said news of Wainui’s death sent shockwaves through the All Blacks, who have just arrived in Washington, DC, to prepare for a Test against the USA Eagles this weekend. An emotional Codie Taylor has paid tribute to Sean Wainui.Credit:Getty Taylor’s voice was shaky as

Eddie Jones backs No 10 Marcus Smith after ditching Ford and Vunipola
Rugby

Eddie Jones backs new No 10 Marcus Smith after ditching England’s old guard George Ford and Billy Vunipola as Jamie George and Mako Vunipola also become big-name casualties Eddie Jones named Marcus Smith in his 34-man squad for the autumn Test series George Ford, Billy Vunipola, Jamie George and Mako Vunipola missed the cut The Harlequins’ playmaker prodigy propelled his side to a Premiership title After his progress over the last six

Leicester Tigers' Tom Youngs leaves squad 'indefinitely' to care for wife
Rugby

Leicester Tigers have announced former club captain Tom Youngs has taken 'indefinite leave' in order to return to his home in Norfolk and care for his wife, Tiffany, as she battles illness. The former England hooker—who was named Premiership Player of the Season for the 2012/13 campaign—will be unavailable for the current league leaders for the foreseeable future. Tiffany Youngs previously told The Backstory podcast she was diagnosed with Hodgkin

Kellaway shoots down fullback talk as Wallabies look to turn around spring tour fortunes
Rugby

Star Wallabies rookie Andrew Kellaway has dismissed talk he should make a mid-season switch to fullback as Dave Rennie’s side chase the first spring tour with more wins than losses since 2016. Kellaway has been one of the finds of the international season, making Test rugby look easy as he’s scored eight tries in his first nine caps. Andrew Kellaway has bagged eight tries in his first nine Tests for

Worcester 3-48 Leicester: Tigers skin Warriors with show of force
Rugby

Worcester 3-48 Leicester: Tigers skin Warriors with show of force as Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo is the star of the show for league leaders Leicester Tigers crushed Worcester Warriors 48-3 on Saturday afternoon Steve Borthwick was full of praise for Fiji international Nemani Nadolo  The Tigers are now seven points clear the the top of the Premiership table   Steve Borthwick had special praise for Nemani Nadolo after the giant Fijian

Players can now don leggings… but Mike Brown will not be
Rugby

‘I won’t be wearing tights!’: Players can now don leggings on plastic pitches… but Mike Brown says he will not be taking advantage of the rule change Men were previously not permitted to wear leggings or tights during matches World Rugby has altered its laws following a rise in abrasions on artificial pitches The change comes as teams prepare to enter their autumn and winter schedule However, Mike Brown says he will

Wazza and Aussie Dave: Inside the Wallabies rebuild
Rugby

Dave Rennie alights from the golf buggy in shorts and thongs. It is the day before the Wallabies fly out for a four-Test tour of Japan and Europe. After a three-year hiatus due to the World Cup and COVID-19, the familiar spring tour frisson is in the air. Though the squad will not assemble until they meet in Singapore, the scene will be the same. Passports, boarding passes, team managers

Former premiership Hawks take aim at Kennett board
Rugby

Former Hawthorn premiership players James Morrisey and Bruce Stevenson are part of a campaign, including a website, GoFundMe page and a paid political operative, aimed at changing the composition of Jeff Kennett’s Hawthorn board. The group, “Hawks for Change”, are backing ex-Australian Super boss Ian Silk and former premiership player and board member Andy Gowers, in their expected bids to win berths on Kennett’s board, with the group nursing the

Sharks to take punt on Olympic rugby sevens star
Rugby

Having ticked off the goal of representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, Sevens rugby star Lachlan Miller is closing in on achieving another in the form of a start in the NRL with Cronulla. Miller is deep in negotiations with the Sharks, with the parties close to finalising a two-year deal. The 27-year-old had a lucrative deal on the table to join the LA Giltinis, the American Major League Rugby