New Zealand is not to blame for the problems that are forcing Australia to axe one of its five Super Rugby teams, New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew said on Monday. Amid anger and finger-pointing on the Australian side of the Tasman over the decision announced Sunday, Tew admitted Super Rugby over-reached by expanding to … Read more
The Australian Rugby Union said Monday either the Melbourne Rebels or Western Force face the axe from next year’s Super Rugby competition, with talks underway to decide which one survives. Governing body SANZAAR announced Sunday that two South African teams and one from Australia would be culled from the revamped 2018 southern hemisphere tournament. “It … Read more
Two South African teams and one from Australia will be axed from the 2018 Super Rugby competition, governing body SANZAAR said on Sunday. The current 18-team competition will be streamlined to a three conference, 15-team format with five teams from New Zealand, four from Australia, four from South Africa, one from Japan and one from … Read more
South Africa’s Western Stormers joined Canterbury Crusaders as the only undefeated teams in this season’s Super Rugby after ending the Waikato Chiefs’ unbeaten start, while Japan’s Sunwolves broke through for their first win this weekend. Ahead of governing body SANZAAR’s much-anticipated announcement of Super Rugby’s future make-up later Sunday, the Stormers downed the Chiefs 34-26 … Read more
Western Stormers of South Africa put one of their darkest Super Rugby days behind them by beating Waikato Chiefs of New Zealand 34-26 Saturday in a Cape Town thriller. Chiefs humiliated Stormers 60-21 in a quarter-final at Newlands stadium last season and this was the first meeting of the franchises since. “We had not forgotten … Read more
Coastal Sharks of South Africa ground out an 18-13 victory over the Jaguares of Argentina Saturday in an error-strewn Super Rugby match. Endless handling errors by both teams and many penalties led to a stop-start match that offered minimum entertainment at Kings Park stadium in Durban. “It was a disjointed match in which both teams … Read more
Springbok great Joel Stransky on Tuesday urged SANZAAR to stop delaying and unveil its revamped Super Rugby format, saying the governing body needed to make tough decisions and stand by them. Stransky said uncertainty had engulfed the southern hemisphere club competition since the governing body announced early last month that a shake-up was imminent without … Read more
The Canterbury Crusaders joined the Waikato Chiefs and Western Stormers as the only unbeaten teams in Super Rugby with a smashing win over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday. The seven-time champions powered to a bonus-point 41-22 win over the 2014 champions, scoring six tries to three for their sixth win of the campaign. … Read more
Australia’s professional rugby players may go on strike early next year if one of their Super Rugby teams is axed in a shake-up of the competition, a report said on Friday. Fairfax Media said Australia’s Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) is considering pre-season strike action if one of the country’s five Super Rugby teams is … Read more
The Waikato Chiefs have been told to get their act together for their Super Rugby clash with the Northern Bulls after an unconvincing win over the struggling Melbourne Rebels. Coach Dave Rennie read the riot act to the two-time champions after they needed a late burst to overcome Australia’s bottom-placed team in their last outing. … Read more
Ramiro Moyano scored a superb try as the Jaguares of Argentina continued a great start to the Super Rugby season by defeating Queensland Reds of Australia 22-8 Saturday. The winger side-stepped numerous opponents in a dazzling run from midfield before accelerating to the line at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires. His try was the … Read more
Blue cards are set to be issued to players suffering from signs of concussion, the Australian Rugby Union said Thursday in a bid to improve safety during matches. The system, to be trialled in the ARU’s Australian Capital Territory and Newcastle competitions in coming weeks, will require those showing signs of concussion to leave the … Read more
The looming British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand has added a twist to the Crusaders this week as the Canterbury franchise look to go top of the Super Rugby table. With the Waikato Chiefs and Wellington Hurricanes having the weekend off and the Western Stormers already a game behind, the Crusaders will hit … Read more
The table-topping Waikato Chiefs face a “pretty rigorous review” after struggling to beat the Melbourne Rebels who led a revival of the lesser lights in round four of Super Rugby. The Chiefs have 19 points out of a maximum 20 from the first four rounds, but coach Dave Rennie was not impressed with the way … Read more
Winger Courtnall Skosan scored four tries as Golden Lions of South Africa cruised to a bonus-point 44-14 win over 14-man Queensland Reds of Australia Saturday in Super Rugby. Reds and Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper was red-carded after 56 minutes of the round 4 match for a swinging arm tackle on Lions centre Rohan Janse van … Read more
Northern Bulls of South Africa fared better with 14 men than 15 when defeating Sunwolves of Japan 34-21 on Friday in a lively Super Rugby match in Pretoria. Leading 17-14 at half-time, the home team were reduced to seven forwards from the opening minute of the second half when flanker Reinaldo Bothma was red-carded. The … Read more
The pacesetting Waikato Chiefs have taken the opportunity to experiment as they escape another round of frenzied local derbies for their first trans-Tasman game of the Super Rugby season. After a tough first three weeks against the Otago Highlanders, Auckland Blues and Wellington Hurricanes, the Chiefs have a favourable round-four match against the winless Rebels … Read more
A gruelling round three of Super Rugby this weekend has proved costly for New Zealand’s backline, with five All Blacks sidelined with leg injuries. Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Seta Tamanivalu and Lima Sopoaga were all injured ahead of the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in June. The fullback cupboard is almost … Read more
Beaten Wellington coach Chris Boyd complained that some off-the-ball incidents “have no place” in rugby after his Hurricanes were beaten by the Waikato Chiefs in a fiery New Zealand derby. The Chiefs knocked the Hurricanes off the top of the Super Rugby standings at the weekend in a clash that epitomised the ferocity of New … Read more
Curwin Bosch was the unexpected 27-point star as Coastal Sharks of South Africa defeated New South Wales Waratahs of Australia 37-14 in a Super Rugby match Saturday. The teenage utility back started the match at Kings Park stadium in Durban among the replacements only to be thrust into action after six minutes when captain Patrick … Read more