Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

The Latest Breaking News from World Rugby

Borthwick delays call on resting Itoje until final England squad announced in June

England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, says he may rest some senior players including his captain, Maro Itoje, for all or part of the Nations Championship

The Guardian - UK

Georgia’s Merab Sharikadze gets 11-year ban for role in urine-swapping rugby doping scandal

Six Georgia players and a medical official have been handed lengthy bans after the biggest anti-doping investigation in World Rugby’s history

The Guardian - UK

Ex-international rugby captain hit with 11-year ban for doping scandal involvement

IN FULL

The Independent UK

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Former Georgia captain banned for 11 years after rugby doping scandal

Merab Sharikadze won 104 caps for his country and has since pursued a career in mixed martial arts

The Independent UK

‘A missing generation’: why are there are no female head coaches in Women’s Six Nations?

A new scheme will attempt to address the glaring lack of diversity among top coaches in elite women’s rugby union

The Guardian - UK

‘Every body is a rugby body’: US women players fight for inclusivity after trans ban

Players are considering only competing in the ‘open’ category, which allows people of any sex or gender to play

The Guardian - US

World Rugby chair responds to NRL fear, Pasifika future

World Rugby chair Brett Robinson has explained the organisation's commitment to the region, despite the uncertain future of Moana Pasifika and the NRL threat.

AAP

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

World Rugby to expand trial of smaller ball in women’s game

Exclusive: A smaller ball will be in use at WXV later this year after being trialled on the sevens circuit

The Independent UK

Saudi Arabia abandons plans to host 2035 Rugby World Cup amid funding cutback

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is undergoing a ‘value realization’ of its economic plan and its governor Yasir al-Rumayyan said the Iran war is adding ‘pressure to priorities’

The Guardian - UK

Potential US host cities for 2031 Women’s World Cup games mull withdrawal over Fifa concerns

Some cities have opted to focus on hosting rights for the men’s Rugby World Cup, with World Rugby said to offer fewer restrictions than Fifa has presented for the Women’s World Cup

The Guardian - UK

Fiji and the beautiful south reveal rugby’s soul but northern money talks loudest

Southern hemisphere players are integral to the global game but the financial clout of Europe remains dominant

The Guardian - UK

Argentina bid to join Brazil, Chile and Uruguay in hosting 2035 Rugby World Cup

A preferred host will be identified in May 2027, with World Rugby’s council granting final approval the following November

The Independent UK

Promotion and relegation from Prem to be scrapped as rugby moves to franchise model

The Rugby Football Union council ‘overwhelmingly’ voted to approve a move to a franchise model which will begin in the 2026-27 season

The Guardian - UK

World Rugby responds to questions over future of scrums and bid to make sport ‘quicker and simpler’ for fans

The governing body has set a renewed focus on the overall growth of the sport and fan experience

The Independent UK

Get all your
news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One news app.

The Independent UK

Is rugby any closer to answering the complex brain injury question?

SPECIAL REPORT: With a court case looming large over the sport, Harry Latham-Coyle investigates what is being done to combat head injuries and the players struggling with life after rugby

The Guardian - US

MLR leaders hail players union deal as US league heads for six-team season

Long-sought collective bargaining agreement sealed after multiple franchise exits and with World Cups looming

The Conversation

New rugby rules for South African kids aim to keep them safe: what does the research say?

Children in South Africa are back at school after their summer holidays. My son, aged five, has just started school at Wynberg Boys Junior, a school based in Cape Town’s southern suburbs with a strong record of playing rugby.

The Independent UK

World Rugby defends decision to open 2027 World Cup with huge mismatch

Hosts Australia will take on Hong Kong in Perth in an underwhelming start to the tournament

Get all your
news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One news app.

AAP

Fiji a 'massive threat' at World Cup: Wallabies captain

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson is wary of Fiji at the 2027 World Cup following the Pacific side's improvements in recent years.

The Guardian - UK

Everton in line to host Fiji ‘home’ match against England in Nations Championship

Everton have been offered the chance to host England’s game against Fiji in July at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

The Independent UK

How Donald Trump factored into decision to host Springboks vs All Blacks in Baltimore

Heavyweights South Africa and New Zealand will play a historic Test match in the US in September as part of “Rugby’s Great Rivalry” series

The Independent UK

Why are South Africa and New Zealand playing in Baltimore? The inside story of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry

RUGBY’S GREATEST RIVALRY: As the two heavyweight nations prepare to clash in Baltimore in September, Harry Latham-Coyle lays out the landscape as rugby chases the American dream

The Independent UK

Springboks to take on All Blacks in Baltimore in first Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series

The two sides will meet in Maryland in September

The Independent UK

Fixtures and schedule confirmed for first women’s British and Irish Lions tour

The Lions will take on the Black Ferns in a three-Test series in 2027

The Guardian - UK

Chile coach Pablo Lemoine: ‘Rugby is in trouble, even in countries like Wales’

The former Uruguay prop has praise for the new World Cup format but believes World Rugby must do more for developing nations

1 2 3 4 5

People

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Organisations

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Topics

Places

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.