Rugby News

By GARY FITZGERALD ENGLISH clubs endured a miserable European washout as all four teams in action in the Champions Cup yesterday slumped to opening defeats. Bath, Bristol and Sale started their campaigns badly while Sara...

By SAM JACKSON GLOUCESTER held the back-to-back champions of Europe Bordeaux Begles to a thrilling 36-36 draw at Kingsholm in the opening round but technical director Chris Boyd says the over-riding emotion is disappoint...

FORMER Sale Sharks second row Hyron Andrews died suddenly in France, where his Lions team were preparing for yesterdays Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle. A statement from SA rugby said Andrews passed away tragic...

By GARY FITZGERALD Looking good: Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn MAX Llewellyn is adamant the Cherry and Whites are serious title contenders and are not sitting on top of the Premiership by accident. The Wales star is br...

LEICESTER have signed Samoan international hooker Richie Asiata. The 30-year-old has played more than 50 times in Super Rugby with Queensland Reds. Im really happy to get involved, I cant wait to get to know the boys, th...

WALES centre Ben Thomas is set to miss the start of the Nations Championship with a calf injury. Wales face Japan on November 7 followed by New Zealand and Australia. Hell be able to definitely form part of the Nations C...

BRISTOL have signed former Newcastle hooker Bryn Gordon on a short-term deal as injury cover. Gabriel Oghre is out with a calf strain sustained in the defeat by Saracens on Saturday, and is expected to be out for a few w...

THE British and Irish Lions will play a historic first womens fixture when they face France - ranked fourth in the world - at Cardiff s Principality Stadium before their 2027 tour to New Zealand. Jo Yapps side face the F...

By ADAM HATHAWAY BEN Spencer has a score to settle with the World Cup and is eyeing finally playing a full part in a global tournament next year Down Under. Plagued by a shoulder injury that has caused him problems for n...

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL EMOTIONAL Sale boss Alex Sanderson was gutted his side could not honour the memory of popular former lock Hyron Andrews with a win. Andrews died at his Johannesburg Lions team hotel before yesterdays ...

By GARY FITZGERALD PREVIEW Pau v Leicester Tigers Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade du Hameau In the mix: Archie van der Flier has already played for England A but his cousin Josh plays for Ireland PICTURES: Getty Images ARCHIE...

By TOM CLEMENT SAM Prendergast inspired Leinster to a commanding bonus-point victory over Clermont with a spectacular individual try as the Irish province overturned a half-time deficit in France. The fly-half produced t...

By GARY FITZGERALD Connacht .. 45pts Tries: Prendergast 18, 47; Forde 23, Hurley-Langton 29, Frawley 51, 63; Blade 60 Conversions: Gilbert 18, 30, 48, 52, 64 Saracens .. 36pts Tries: Vaenuku 5, 58; Caluori 11, Tompkins 4...

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW Toulouse v Exeter Chiefs Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stadium de Toulouse ROB Baxter has challenged his players to prove they belong among Europes elite as they prepare for a daunting Champions Cup open...

By MARK RICHARDSON LA ROCHELLE overcame an emotional Lions side at Stade Marcel-Deflandre as the South African visitors made their Champions Cup debut just a day after the death of teammate Hyron Andrews. Lions produced ...

SUPER sub Will Trenholm came off the bench to score two tries as Gloucester went toe to toe with the two-time defending champions Bordeaux-Begles. By BEN JAYCOCK Tries: Clark 9, Llewellyn 14, Barton 34,Trenholm 57, 61 Co...

GEORGE Skivinton admitted he was slightly disappointed that his side couldnt hang on to secure a statement victory against the back-to-back champions but the director of rugby was delighted with his sides fight. He said:...

By JOHN WILSON CRAIG Casey scored a dramatic late try as Munster marked the 10th anniversary of Anthony Foleys death with an emotionalChampions Cup victory over Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The Ireland scrum-half cro...

PAT Lams young Bears left Cape Town with their heads held high but frustrated they did not kick up more of a storm against the South Africans. By ADAM HATHAWAY Stormers 49pts Tries: Senatla 7, Zas 15, 77; Roche 29, 53; G...

BRISTOL skipper Kieran Marmion puffed out his chest despite Bears seven-try beating by the Stormers but insisted they will learn from the reverse. Bears had their chances to finish nearer on the board to the Stormers but...

By ROGER PANTING Bath .14pts Montpellier 32pts Tries: Lawrence 19, Green 24 Conversions: Russell 20, 25 Skills: No.10 Adam Hastings ran the show for Montpellier Tries: Hogg 12, Taofifenua 47, 62; Becognee 75 Conversions:...

By DAVE FRANCIS Pretoria Bulls56pts CHESWILL Jooste scored a stunning hat-trick as the Bulls launched their Champions Cup campaign with a commanding victory over Stade Français at Loftus Versfeld. The 20-year-old winger...