Former Wallabies coach’s new role revealed in big NRL twist
Michael Cheika is set to return to rugby union following reports he’ll be announced as the new coach of the NSW Waratahs this week.
Rugby Union
17th August 2026
Back in blue: Cheika set to return as Waratahs coach
Michael Cheika is in line to return to the Waratahs 12 years after leading the team to a Super Rugby title.
16th August 2026
Two-try Tupou set to stay for Pumas, Boks duty after making history in Townsville
Taniela Tupou became the first Wallabies prop to score two tries in a game since “Wild” Bill Cerutti in 1931, and he won’t be rushing back to Paris either.
Kiss’ fingerprints quickly appearing on new-look Wallabies
Clever interplay between midfield players and some aggressive forwards are a good sign for the challenges to come in Argentina.
Les Kiss reaps rewards of derring-do approach to Australia’s team selection
Issac Henry, Carlo Tizzano, Charlie Cale and Massimo de Lutiis repay faith shown by Wallabies coach and highlight squad’s strength in depth. The Wallabies have problems, but they are of the good variety.
Wales great Jones set to join Ospreys board
Ospreys are set to announce former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones as a new member of their board before the 2026-27 season.
15th August 2026
WRU condemns abuse and doubles down on three-team plan
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) states there is no prospect of the game generating enough revenue to fund four professional teams beyond 2028.
Wallabies player ratings: How the men in gold performed against Japan
Australia is yet again blessed with two outstanding openside flankers at the same time.
Pigs in muck: Wallabies forwards have a field day against Japan
In this topsy-turvy Test, Australia’s backs seemed to do all the grunt work while the forwards feasted with eight tries, continuing a successful start to the Les Kiss era.
Carter Gordon impresses on return as Wallabies surge clear of Japan for dominant win
Les is proving more for the Wallabies, with new coach Les Kiss leading the side to a second consecutive victory in an eight-try 56-17 triumph over Japan in Townsville.
Wallaby 1000 scores try on debut
Wallaby No.1000 Massimo De Lutiis goes over as the home team extend their lead.
‘The unlikeliest try-scorer’ burns his home nation
Ryan Lonergan’s sluggish box kick is charged down by Japan giant Harry Hockings, who then dots down to get the visitors on the board.
Stunning start for Wallabies as Nasser scores
A stunning start for the Wallabies as hooker Josh Nasser scores an early try in the right corner.
Fairytale try for Wallaby No.1000 as Aussies demolish Japan in stunning second-half surge
The Wallabies have completed a 2-0 series sweep over Japan, producing a devastating second-half performance to run away with a 56-17 victory in Townsville.
Forwards power Wallabies to massive 56-17 win over Japan
The Wallabies have powered home in a dominant second half to thump Eddie Jones’ Japan in Townsville.
The NRL would be mad not to plant a flag in Crusaders country
Unlike in Australia, New Zealand sport fans are happy to support both rugby codes, while the country’s production line of collision-sport athletes is a resource the NRL can ill afford to ignore.
Davies calls for WRU board to step down
Former Wales captain Jonathan Davies calls for the Welsh Rugby Union board to step down.
Start of England's community rugby season postponed
The Rugby Football Union delays the start of the community rugby season because of concerns about player welfare and pitch conditions affecting much of England.
14th August 2026
How Japan’s new rookie sensation proved himself to Eddie at Coogee Oval
Ryunosuke Ito has emerged as a rising star in Japanese rugby and some star showings at the spiritual home of running rugby in Australia played a role.
How a 1990s radio quiz helped the Wallabies celebrate their 1000th player
After 127 years of Test matches, Wallaby No.1000 will run onto the field when Queensland prop Massimo De Lutiis helps take on Japan. How do we know? A stockbroker’s decade-long passion project.
Wallabies search for pieces to fit playmaker puzzle as Kiss swings changes
Australia head coach called in Carter Gordon to face Japan in Townsville but will keep investigating his flyhalf options before next year’s World Cup.
13th August 2026
Prem champions Saints name Dingwall club captain
Premiership champions Northampton Saints appoint Fraser Dingwall as their new club captain.
Empty seats and faded aura show how Springboks outgrew the All Blacks
Back-to-back world champions can use Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to establish themselves as one of the greatest teams of all time. South Africans are supposed to care about the All Blacks more than this.
Jones turns to geese to inspire Japan
Before their second Test against Australia, Eddie Jones reveals an interesting method he uses to coach Japan - watching videos of geese fly in formation.
Carter Gordon returns for Wallabies in ‘balanced selection’ for second Japan Test
After three false starts, the Carter Gordon era for the Wallabies may have finally arrived after the flyhalf was named in the Australian XV to play Japan in Townsville on Saturday.
Kiss flags big change to Wallabies’ attack after major reshuffle for Japan rematch
An almost new forward pack, an old five-eighth and potentially the 1000th Wallaby in history have been named for the rematch with Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms.
Centre Hall extends stay at Saracens
Saracens' England 'A' centre Angus Hall signs a new contract with the Prem club.
Sale hooker Longstaff signs new deal to 2029
Sale Sharks hooker Alfie Longstaff signs a new deal to remain with the Prem club until 2029.
Saints extend strategic partnership with Bedford
Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson says the partnership with Bedford Blues is "valuable" to both clubs.
‘Whole and meaningful’: Red Roses coach John Mitchell becomes British citizen
England women’s World Cup-winning coach, John Mitchell, has revealed he became a UK citizen in July after a six-year process.
Lawrence and Daly lose England central contracts as Borthwick looks to World Cup
Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly have both lost their central contracts, with Steve Borthwick omitting the pair from his 25-man squad a year before England’s World Cup campaign begins.
12th August 2026
Five players get first England deals in Borthwick shake-up
Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Jack van Poortvliet and Seb Atkinson are handed England central contracts for the first time as Steve Borthwick shakes up his squad.
Ospreys say WRU plan to cut team is wrong
Ospreys respond publicly to WRU plans for the first time with the belief four professional Welsh sides is the way forward.
Smaller balls, national anthem test & tough travel schedule - England gear up for WXV
England's Red Roses are in pre-season training before the upcoming WXV Global Series and have been using the controversial smaller balls.
Nonu, 44, performs solo haka in response to All Blacks
Former All Blacks star Ma'a Nonu responds to the haka by performing one of his own before his side, the Sharks, take on New Zealand in Durban.
Bell's classy tribute to Smith
Wallabies star Angus Bell delivered a classy tribute to former coach Brian Smith, who died aged 59.
Former Wallaby and Tiger Brian Smith dies, age 59
The code-hopping former football star and international coach passed away following a sudden illness.
Nonu's solo response to haka
Sharks recruit Ma'a Nonu, 44, delivers a solo response to the All Blacks haka in Durban.
All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu performs solo haka against New Zealand in South Africa tour match
South African rugby teams love facing the haka. None have ever replied to New Zealand’s traditional pre-match challenge with another haka until Tuesday.
Suaalii scratched for Wallabies as Gordon returns to No.10 hot seat
The Wallabies backline is set for a shake-up for the rematch with Japan in Townsville, and the Wallaroos have a new head coach.
11th August 2026
Ulster captain Henderson to miss start of season
Ulster captain Iain Henderson will miss several months of the new season after hip surgery during the summer.
Bath in 'serious discussions' to play in Reading
Reading owner Rob Couhig says the club have had "serious discussions" with Bath about the Prem Rugby club playing at their stadium.
Prem champions Saints name Henry as defence coach
Northampton Saints name Jim Henry as their new defence coach following the departure of Lee Radford.
Suaalii misses in 'aggressive' new defence
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii misses his target as the Wallabies implement an "aggressive" new defensive system.
Bath to go on the road for Prem season run-in
Bath's last two home games of the season to be played away from The Rec as part of an accelerated construction plan for the club's new stadium.
10th August 2026
Neumann back in Wales' extended WXV training squad
Wing Lisa Neumann returns from injury as head coach Sean Lynn names 14 uncapped players in a 46-strong squad preparing for four autumn Tests.
‘First-world problem’: Why Wallabies star says Suaalii shouldn’t be pigeonholed
Tom Wright has addressed where Australia’s biggest star’s long-term future must lie, as the Wallabies suffer a huge blow at the judiciary.
Gloucester decide against Villa Park return
Gloucester Rugby confirm they will not be returning to Villa Park to face Leicester Tigers in the Prem next season.
Why Wallabies coach Les Kiss was laughing as Japan Test hung in the balance
The Wallabies-Japan clash was a white-knuckle ride, but a brief snapshot of the Australian coach in his first Test proved insightful.
9th August 2026
The Wallabies almost beat themselves in Osaka, but Kiss won’t apply the shackles
New Wallabies coach Les Kiss encourages his players to chance their arm in attack, but that led to mistakes, and a nervous win, in his first Test.
What Kiss’ approach to attack will mean for million-dollar man Suaalii
The Wallabies started life under a new coach with both a narrow win and an insight into how different things will be.
Les Kiss and his Wallabies have a mountain to climb but gritty win over Japan is a big first step
Australia got ambushed early and were a hot mess at times. But Kiss showed patience and nous as he found a way to win When scaling a mountain, “don’t look at the peak”, advised the Japanese film-maker Akira Kurosawa.
8th August 2026
Wallabies player ratings: How the men in gold performed against Japan
The Wallabies hung on against Japan in Osaka. Here’s how they rated.
New coach Kiss off to a winning start as Wallabies rumble past bold Japan
There was good, bad and plenty of ugly but the Les Kiss era is off to a winning start.
There were plenty of mistakes, but the Wallabies’ win also brought plenty of satisfaction
Three years after Eddie Jones left the Wallabies in ruins, our blokes registered a small payback against a solid Japanese side.
‘Very dangerous’: New Wallabies coach’s winning start despite ‘ugly’ red card
Australia got new coach Les Kiss off to a winning start on Saturday with a nail-biting 35-32 victory over Japan that was full of twists and turns in sweltering Osaka.
‘Superstar’ university student carves up Australia
Japan has made a brilliant start in the Osaka heat as Ryunosuke Ito bamboozles the Wallabies’ defence to score the opening try.
Wallabies lock sent off for high shot
Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero has been sent off for his high shot on Japan captain Warner Dearns.
Wright fires Wallabies in front
That’s more like it from the Wallabies as Tom Wright fires Les Kiss’ side in front for the first time in this Test.
Fijian Vunilagi dies in Japan from suspected heatstroke
Fijian Saimoni Vunilagi has died of suspected heatstroke after a training session, his Japanese club Kyuden Voltex announce.
‘We found a way’: Wallabies defy heat, red card to get home over Eddie’s Japan
Les Kiss took charge of his first game as Wallabies coach, defeating Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms 35-32 in Osaka.
Carter scores sparkling All Blacks try
Leroy Carter scores a sparkling All Blacks try against the Stormers.
The new Wallabies coach has copped an early hospital pass
Les Kiss’ first match as Wallabies coach pits him against the wily Eddie Jones and a strong Japan side more than capable of springing an upset.
Wallabies need to handle the heat as Les Kiss era begins in sweltering Japan
Australia’s new head coach refused to cool expectations before a rugby international in Osaka with a short runway to hosting the 2027 World Cup.
7th August 2026
All Blacks receive heroes welcome in South Africa
The All Blacks receive a heroes welcome in South Africa ahead of their first tour game against the Stormers in Cape Town.
A World Cup comeback for Quade Cooper? Don’t rule it out, says Wallabies captain
The 38-year-old former Test five-eighth spent a day with the Wallabies in his home city this week as they prepare for Saturday’s clash against Japan. Harry Wilson remains a big fan.
Hoop dreams: How growing up on a court turned Josh into a Wallabies ‘baller’
He has only played five Tests but Josh Canham had a fan club waiting for him in Japan. And after his form in July, there are many more Canham admirers popping up around the world.
Springboks and All Blacks flex financial muscles with ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour
Throwback series rekindles memories of the past, but the focus is very much on realities of the modern game.
6th August 2026
‘The pressure is on Australia’: Eddie Jones fires a shot at the Wallabies. Sort of
The expectations of some verbal fireworks from the Japan coach ahead of a clash with the Wallabies were high. It didn’t turn out that way.
Cheika comeback firms as possibility after Foley and Phipps return to Tahs
Six years after they left, veterans Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps are back at the NSW Waratahs. But it is a very different club to the one they left.
Wallabies send love to injured Sydney player
The Wallabies send love to Warringah Rats hooker Wes Thomas, who suffered a serious neck injury in the Shute Shield.
Inexperienced halves pair get nod for first Wallabies Test under new coach Les Kiss
New Australian coach Les Kiss has thrown his support behind inexperienced halves pair Ryan Lonergan and Declan Meredith for his first match in charge of the Wallabies against Eddie Jones’s Japan in Osaka on Saturday.
‘Horses for courses’: Kiss stacks bench in first Wallabies team as Eddie showdown looms
Miles Amatosero and Aidan Ross will start against Japan as part of a ploy to counter Japan’s speed and the oppressive heat in Osaka.
Sydney rugby community rallies around star after neck injury
Warringah hooker Wes Thomas faces an uncertain future after injuring his neck playing for his club on Saturday.
Argentina’s Albornoz given four-match ban for intimidating referee after England defeat
Tomás Albornoz, the Argentina fly-half, has been banned for four matches for intimidating the referee after the full-time whistle of England’s controversial victory against the Pumas last month.
Kloska & Halliwell stay as Bears also sign Lennon
Bristol props George Kloska and Jimmy Halliwell agree new deals and scrum-half Oscar Lennon re-signs with the club.
Scarlets chief Daniels dismisses Ospreys merger
Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels also wants greater transparency from the Welsh Rugby Union as their future hangs in the balance.
5th August 2026
Ex-England prop Marler to become BBC's first celebrity Gladiator
The former rugby star will be known as Mauler when the fourth series airs in 2027, the BBC confirmed.
TV presenter Knowles buys stake in Cornish Pirates
Television presenter Nick Knowles becomes a shareholder in Champ Rugby side Cornish Pirates.
Mumbai, Mie, Madrid - GB part-time stars' search for sevens
Since their contracts were stripped back to part-time last summer, Great Britain Sevens players have had to find alternative employment and teams to keep their passion alive.
RFU expects £10m loss off the back of England’s worst Six Nations campaign
England’s worst Six Nations performance has contributed to the Rugby Football Union expecting a £10m loss for the financial year ending June 2026, the Guardian can reveal.
The 310 seconds of All Blacks defence that should give Wallabies fans hope
Defence coach Scott McLeod masterminded one of the most famous finishes at a World Cup when the Kiwis held out Ireland for more than five minutes in 2023. He wants to bring that steel to Australia.
‘He backed me’: Why young Wallabies star won’t say a bad word about Eddie
Max Jorgensen is coming up against Eddie Jones for the first time in Australian colours, three years after the ex-Wallabies coach called him up as an 18-year-old.
Why £1m-a-season deal will be hard for Pollock and Hearn to find
Salary cap regulations might not be high on everyone's holiday reading list, but Eddie Hearn might be interested if he's keen to get Henry Pollock's £1m pay-day.
4th August 2026
Newcastle sign Fiji hooker Togiatama
Newcastle Red Bulls sign Fiji hooker Zuriel Togiatama on a one-year deal.
The teenage Cardiff hooker ignoring Wales hype
Hooker Tom Howe stays grounded after being tipped as one to watch for Wales before his debut for Cardiff.
‘Run us off our feet’: Wallabies’ surprising ploy to prepare for Japanese heat
Knowing Eddie Jones will be taking full advantage of a well-timed heatwave, the Wallabies began preparing for it last week in Sydney.
All Blacks receive hero's welcome in South Africa
The All Blacks receive a hero's welcome in South Africa ahead of their first tour game against the Stormers in Cape Town.
Kiss explains first steps with Wallabies
New coach Les Kiss explains his first steps with the Wallabies in a sit-down interview with Stan Sport's Matt Burke.
Exeter stalwart Cowling dies aged 82
Former Exeter Chiefs coach and Leicester Tigers and Gloucester player Robin Cowling dies aged 82.
Pollock to demand £1m a year at Northampton - Hearn
Henry Pollock is set to demand a substantial increase on his current Northampton contract to stay at Franklin's Gardens, with agent Eddie Hearn suggesting annual earnings of £1m are his going rate.
3rd August 2026
Northampton sign Italian international Neculai
Northampton Saints sign Italian International tighthead prop Ion Neculai from Zebre.
Wallabies melt in Japan, where the weather is officially ‘cruelly hot’
Les Kiss’ side has landed in Osaka as the country suffers through an extreme heatwave that has lasted nearly three weeks.
'Family stress' forces Scotland boss Fukofuka to step down
Sione Fukofuka steps down from his role as Scotland Women head coach because of "the stress and the strain" of being apart from his family in Australia.
‘He’d walk into the Wallabies’: Japan benefit from Australian-raised talent
Brad Thorn once said Harry Hockings could be a “100-Test Wallaby”. This weekend he’ll play against Australia for the first time.
2nd August 2026
Be it a HQ Holden or a Wallabies jersey, Lonergan’s no stranger to playing the long game
For a long time, Ryan Lonergan was the best player in Australia without a Test cap. Now he is a Wallaby – and he’s reaping the benefits of that battle for recognition.
1st August 2026
Leicester back row Ilione out until 2027
Leicester Tigers back row Emeka Ilione is ruled out with a shoulder problem until "at least" the end of 2026.
Before they find a new coach, the Waratahs need to find an identity
The last time NSW had a clear sense of who they were was in 2014, when they last won the Super Rugby title. Twelve years later, does anyone have a clue what they stand for?.
