Dec 6, 2024, 11:56 AM Open Extended Reactions American Ilona Maher is arguably the world’s most popular rugby player, boasting the largest social media following of anyone in the sport, but the 28-year-old said her focus on growing her online profile was born out of financial necessity. The USA Eagles star will join English club
Rugby
Dec 5, 2024, 11:31 AM Open Extended Reactions Kevin Sinfield’s latest fundraising effort in honour of late teammate Rob Burrow has soared past the £500,000 mark as the rugby league legend progresses in his seven-day ultramarathon challenge. Sinfield is running over 230 miles in a week to raise money for the motor neurone disease (MND)
Dec 5, 2024, 01:36 PM Stuart Hogg retired from international rugby after last year’s Rugby World Cup. Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg was handed a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 by a court in Aberdeen on Thursday after breaching bail conditions. Hogg, 32, appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court earlier
Dec 4, 2024, 09:48 AM Open Extended Reactions Jordie Barrett will play the rest of the season at Leinster. David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images All Blacks star Jordie Barrett has been given the “royal treatment” upon arriving in Dublin as he prepares to start life at Irish club Leinster. Barrett signed a short-term deal with Leinster
Dec 3, 2024, 07:40 AM Open Extended Reactions The 2024-25 Investec European Rugby Champions Cup will kick off on 6 December as Bath host La Rochelle at the Rec. The season is scheduled to run until 24 May 2025. The defending champions, France’s Toulouse, will look to defend their crown against the best teams from
Dec 2, 2024, 07:25 PM Open Extended Reactions USA Eagles star Ilona Maher has signed a three-month contract with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears, the club has confirmed. While the deal will see her play for Bristol from January, Maher has already landed in the UK this week to begin training, before she returns
Sam Bruce, Deputy Editor, espn.com.auNov 30, 2024, 06:30 PM Close Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Open Extended Reactions
James Regan Nov 28, 2024, 11:15 AM Open Extended Reactions The final major rugby Test of the year comes in Dublin on Friday night, as Ireland host Australia at the Aviva Stadium. Former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt returns to his old stomping ground for the first time as an opposition head coach, looking to guide
Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 27, 2024, 03:11 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler has announced he will retire from professional rugby on Friday.
Multiple contributors Nov 27, 2024, 10:53 AM Open Extended Reactions Week 4 of November’s autumn international series saw most teams play their final Test match of the year, with just Ireland and Australia to face off in Dublin on Friday. It was a weekend of emphatic wins. Scotland ended Australia’s hopes of a historic Grand
Nov 26, 2024, 08:27 AM Open Extended Reactions Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Bill Sweeney received a pay rise of over £400,000 even though the English governing body announced a record operating loss of £37.9 million on Monday. The annual report showed revenues of £175.2m compared with £221.4m in the previous year, with investment
Brittany Mitchell, ESPN Assistant EditorNov 24, 2024, 06:22 PM Close Brittany Mitchell has been a sports fan from an early age, with a keen interest in netball, cricket and rugby. Brittany interned at Rugby Magazine and the Australian Rugby Union before joining ESPN. Open Extended Reactions Australia’s dreams of a historic Grand Slam triumph 40
Nov 20, 2024, 08:13 AM Winger Duhan van der Merwe reclaimed his try scoring record for Scotland as they ran in four tries to one and overwhelmed Australia 27-13 on Sunday, ending the Wallabies’ hopes of a Grand Slam over the home nations on their November tour. Van der Merwe’s 30th try for his country
Nov 24, 2024, 09:49 PM Open Extended Reactions England fullback Ellie Kildunne was named women’s player of the year at the World Rugby awards on Sunday, while Springboks forward Pieter-Steph du Toit won the men’s award. Editor’s Picks 2 Related France captain Antoine Dupont was named sevens player of the year after steering his country
Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 24, 2024, 06:47 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions England’s win over Japan means everything and nothing. It was one of those nasty tightrope matches
Nov 20, 2024, 08:14 AM England ended their run of five straight defeats with a comprehensive 59-14 demolition of a young Japan team at Twickenham on Sunday, running in nine tries, including two each for hookers Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie. Despite difficult rainy and windy conditions, England sought to keep the ball in hand
Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterNov 24, 2024, 07:42 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Eddie Jones said he was abused by a fan on his return to Twickenham and shrugged
Nov 23, 2024, 08:50 PM Open Extended Reactions Warren Gatland wants to remain as Wales coach. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images Warren Gatland said he wants to remain Wales coach despite a disastrous year in which his side have lost all 11 Tests they have played, but admitted his future was uncertain in the wake of