Rugby

Tributes are flowing for the former All Black, Sione Lauaki, who has died aged 35.

The Rugby Players association says innocent players being labelled drug cheats is a price that must be paid in the fight against performance enhancing drugs.

The nephew of All Black legend Tana Umaga will get his first start for the England under-20 rugby team.

Michael Cheika is not expecting an apology from NZ Rugby Union for inferences that the Wallabies were behind the bugging of the All Blacks' hotel room in Sydney last year.

The Australian rugby union says it is relieved an investigation has confirmed it had no part in the bugging of the All Blacks team hotel ahead of last year's Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney.

South African World Cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen, counted among rugby's greatest scrumhalves, has died at the age of 45.

Wales overcame a poor start to eventually trample Italy 33-7 in their opening Six Nations encounter in Rome.

Former Wallabies forward Scott Higginbotham has been charged with assaulting a police officer in a late-night incident in Brisbane.

England overcame a poor first half to grind down France for a 19-16 victory to open the defence of their Six Nations title.

Scotland hung on to upset Ireland 27-22 in a pulsating match at Murrayfield to secure their first opening day win in the Six Nations for over a decade.

"Who killed the Sevens?" asked  the media when crowds fell to unsustainable levels in Wellington last weekend. Some said it was the drunks, some blamed the wowsers. And some said the media must look…

The former Scotland and Lions coach Jim Telfer has launched a scathing attack on England coach Eddie Jones, likening him to Donald Trump.

Modern players spend so much time looking at smartphones, it is making them less skilful on the pitch, says the new vision coach for England's national side.