The yellow-carding of Takuma Asahara proved costly for the Japanese Sunwolves as they lost 38-31 to the Central Cheetahs of South Africa in Super Rugby Saturday. The replacement prop was sin-binned after 65 minutes for a second offence in quick succession with the visitors clinging to a 31-30 lead at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. … Read more
Utility back Kurtley Beale has signed a two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union and New South Wales Waratahs after rejecting a lucrative contract at England’s Wasps to focus on the 2019 World Cup. Beale, 28, is reportedly the Premiership’s highest-paid player, and with 60 caps he would be eligible for Wallabies selection even if … Read more
Defending champions Wellington Hurricanes are relishing the prospect of “brutal” clash with the Waikato Chiefs on Friday in what will be their first real test of the Super rugby season. “It’s going to be a real scrap,” Hurricanes assistant coach Richard Watt said of the showdown between the only two sides to take maximum points … Read more
Central Cheetahs attacked relentlessly in the first half and defended superbly after the break to claim a 34-28 Super Rugby victory at home to Northern Bulls on Saturday. In a South African derby of contrasting halves, Cheetahs scored four converted tries to turn over 28-14 ahead at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. It was … Read more
Western Stormers of South Africa battled to a 32-25 Super Rugby victory Saturday over a Jaguares of Argentina team reduced to 13 men for part of the second half. Outstanding loose forward Pablo Matera and Matias Moroni were yellow carded within a minute just past the hour mark at Newlands stadium in Cape Town. Stormers … Read more
Defending champions Wellington Hurricanes prepare to unleash their big guns this weekend but the pressure is on Super Rugby’s lesser lights amid talk of slimming down the 18-team competition. Governing body SANZAAR meet next week to discuss how to tackle Super Rugby’s unwieldy conference structure, exhausting travel schedules and lopsided contests which are now sprawled … Read more
The Wellington Hurricanes swamped Japan’s hapless Sunwolves to launch the defence of their Super Rugby title in spectacular fashion as New Zealand teams again dominated in the opening round of the new season. The Hurricanes demolished the second-season Sunwolves 83-17 in Tokyo in an embarrassingly lopsided game, while fellow Kiwi teams, Canterbury Crusaders, Auckland Blues … Read more
A superb try by Jaguares scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou highlighted a 39-26 Super Rugby triumph for the Argentines over Southern Kings in South Africa Saturday. Half the visiting team handled the ball in a move started inside their ’22’ at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Bertranou, deputising for injured Argentina star Martin Landajo, rounded … Read more
A rampant Wellington Hurricanes began the defence of their Super Rugby title by pulverising Japan’s Sunwolves 83-17 on Saturday, scoring 13 tries in an embarrassingly lopsided game. Ardie Savea, Vince Aso and Michael Fatialofa all crashed over twice in the Tokyo sunshine as the visitors threatened to break a slew of records against a shambolic … Read more
Former Australian rugby chief John O’Neill has called for Argentina and Japan to be dumped from the troubled Super Rugby competition, along with a South African side. As the SANZAAR organisers grapple with a way forward for the confusing 18-team, five-nation championship, former Australian Rugby Union chairman O’Neill says they must return to a 15-team … Read more
Sunwolves coach Filo Tiatia said Thursday that the Japanese side have no reason to feel pressure this season after a chastening first year in Super Rugby. The Tokyo-based franchise won just one of 15 games under New Zealander Mark Hammett in 2016, while former Japan coach Eddie Jones called them “embarrassing” after a 92-17 mauling … Read more
A new Super Rugby season kicks off this week with bosses pledging to tackle its unwieldy conference structure, exhausting travel schedules and lopsided contests. There will be a first fixture in Samoa in June, meaning the 2017 Super Rugby season will now straddle 17 time zones and four continents. The competition will retain the much-criticised … Read more
Former Wallabies lock Dan Vickerman has passed away suddenly at the age of 37 leaving the rugby world in a state of shock, the Australian Rugby Union said Sunday. The South African-born lock, who played 63 Tests for the Wallabies up until 2011, passed away at his family home in Sydney late Saturday, the ARU … Read more