Tag Archives: Rugby

Russian head coach Lyn Jones has admitted that he was surprised at the leniency of the referee to two of Samoa’s players who were penalised for high tackles. Samoan centre Ray Lee-Lo was sent to the bin in the 27th minute for a tackle in which his shoulder made contact with the head of Russia’s full-back, Vasily Artemyev. Referee, Romain …

Munster Rugby are sweating on the fitness of a number of key players ahead of their PRO14 season opener against Dragons in Thomond Park on Saturday afternoon.  With 12 members of their squad currently at the Rugby World Cup with Ireland, head coach Johann van Graan will have to shuffle his pack ahead of the new season with a number …

Russia and Samoa are currently going head-to-head in Pool A at the Rugby World Cup and the game has been as physical as the fixture would suggest.  Samoa took an early lead with a try from Alapati Leiu, however, their lack of discipline has been the story of the half and Russia soon replied with a penalty from fly-half Yury …

World Rugby has taken aim at the World Cup over issues in refereeing inconsistencies over the opening weekend of the tournament.  There were various complaints regarding officiating over the first round of games, including the inconsistency of decision making at the breakdown, as well as the controversial tackle by Reece Hodge on Fiji’s Peceli Yato which left him concussed. Despite …

 USA head coach Gary Gold has named his team for their World Cup Pool C encounter against England on Thursday with four Irish names included. Following on from their performances for the USA at the World Cup four years ago, the experienced AJ MacGinty and John Quill are named to start. MacGinty, who plays his club rugby with Sale, is …

Japan lock Uwe Helu believes all the pressure will be on Ireland as they prepare to face off in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup next weekend.  Joe Schmidt’s side will be full of confidence heading into the clash given their impressive 27-3 win over Scotland last Sunday. Despite losing Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Aki to injury early on …

Australia head coach Michael Cheika has said that the manner in which Fiji cited Reece Hodge following their clash at the weekend was not “in the spirit of the game”. The Australian winger has been cited for “an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) in the 25th minute of Australia’s Rugby World Cup 2019 Pool D …

Former Australian Rugby Union star, Israel Folau is set to make a dramatic return to Rugby League, nine years after his switch.  Folau’s contract with Rugby Australia was terminated earlier this month following a high-level breach of the Players’ Code of Conduct. The 30-year-old shared a post on social media in which he said that “hell awaits” various groups including …

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus does not believe that his knowledge of the Ireland players will give his side any advantage should they meet in a World Cup quarter-final.  New Zealand were handed the advantage in Pool B today following their thrilling 23-13 win over the Springboks in Yokohama with tries from George Bridge and Scott Barrett. The result …

World Rugby have come under fire for their initiative to clamp down on high tackles after an incident involving Reece Hodge went unpunished during Australia’s World Cup encounter with Fiji. The Australian winger’s shoulder made contact with Peceli Yato’s head in the 26th minute of the game while he also failed to use his arms in the tackle. The Fijian …

New Zealand 23 South Africa 13 _____ It was touted as the biggest and best fixture of the group stages of the Rugby World Cup and the meeting of New Zealand and South Africa didn’t disappoint. Rassie Erasmus’ side brought their ferocious intensity from the Rugby Championship straight into this game in Yokohama and put the All Blacks to the …

New Zealand head coach Steven Hansen has accused his South African counterpart Rassie Erasmus of trying to influence referee Jerome Garces ahead of their titanic World Cup battle this weekend.  During a press conference on Wednesday, Erasmus commented that the era in which the All-Blacks benefit from marginal calls because they are the best in the world has ended. The …

It is a hot topic once more in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup but Ireland powerhouse CJ Stander has said that he was never aware of doping during his time in South Africa.  The 29-year-old previously played for Currie Cup side Blue Bulls and represented South Africa at the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. Stander was called up to …

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has urged Devin Toner “to get back on the horse” following his disappointing omission from Ireland’s World Cup squad earlier this month.  Toner was expected to be named as part of Joe Schmidt’s 31-man panel but there was widespread surprise when the Leinster stalwart was left at home with Munster’s Jean Kleyn named instead. Ross …

It has been a whirlwind number of months for Jack Carty. A highly impressive season with Connacht saw him earn a spot in Ireland’s squad for the Six Nations and he made his Test debut against Italy earlier this year. On the back of his displays for province and country, the 27-year-old was named in Joe Schmidt’s squad for the …

For most of us rugby fanatics, or even half-interested bystanders, the most difficult decision we’ll face this weekend is choosing which channel to tune into for the Rugby World Cup.  Over the past number of weeks, broadcasters have been revealing their illustrious panels for their coverage with a mixture of established names and new faces. Irish people will have a …

Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw has emerged as an injury doubt for the side’s opening World Cup encounter against Scotland on Sunday.  According to a report in the Irish Times, the Leinster star suffered a hamstring injury during training at Ireland’s base in Chiba. Henshaw was in line to start in midfield against the Scots, alongside Bundee Aki, following the pair’s …