Western Force great Matt Hodgson has called for the remaining ARU board members to fall on their swords following their decision to axe the Perth-based Super Rugby franchise. The Force are facing rugby extinction following the ARU’s decision on Friday to cull the team, but the franchise has vowed to take the matter to the

The Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will be South Africa’s trailblazers in the Northern Hemisphere when the revamped PRO14 tournament kicks off. The two former Super Rugby teams will debut in the PRO14 next month with 12 clubs from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy in a radical departure for global rugby. “This is a momentous

Bristol say they faced “massive competition” before securing the services of New Zealand star Charles Piutau. Piutau will move to the west country next year after his existing contract expires with Guinness PRO14 side Ulster. The former Wasps back is among the most sought-after players in world rugby, and his signing represents a major coup

Departing Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver says it’s time for a clean slate following the prolonged decision to axe the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition. Pulver joined the Force as a casualty of the drawn-out saga, announcing that he would step down as soon as a replacement could be found. His

Hours before the Super Rugby final Johan Ackermann was having second thoughts about leaving the Lions for Gloucester. Inbetween the tears and preparing for the showpiece match in front of a packed Ellis Park, Ackermann questioned if he “made the right decision” leaving a Lions team that he had built into a formidable force with

Bristol have pulled off a huge coup with the capture of star back Charles Piutau ahead of the 2018-19 season on a two-year deal. Piutau will play one final campaign at Ulster before switching to the English side, who are bidding to secure promotion to the Aviva Premiership after being relegated last term. The capture

Bristol have pulled off a huge coup with the capture of star back Charles Piutau ahead of the 2018-19 season on a two-year deal. Piutau will play one final campaign at Ulster before switching to the English side, who are bidding to secure promotion to the Aviva Premiership after being relegated last term. The capture

10:10 AM BST ESPN staff England’s preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup are already beginning to take shape with coach Eddie Jones taking a number of his backroom staff on a recce to Japan. Jones spoke last week about the need for England to be the “best prepared team in the world” if they

5:10 PM BST Victoria MonkESPN England kick-started their Rugby World Cup title defence with a 56-5 win over Spain in Dublin Wednesday. The Red Roses dominated from the beginning with two early tries from Bristol’s Meg Jones — who started ahead of vice captain Emily Scarratt — and 25-year-old Kay Wilson. By halftime, Simon Middleton’s

3:57 PM BST ESPN staff Ruan Ackermann has joined Gloucester from Super Rugby finalists Lions, subject to visa clearance. The South African flanker is the son of incoming head coach, Johan Ackermann. Ackermann started at No. 8 as the Lions lost in the Super Rugby final last weekend. Gloucester’s Director of Rugby David Humphreys spoke