Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Wasps have made 167 players and staff redundant

RFU confirms Wasps will be relegated to Championship

Wasps will be relegated from the top-flight Premiership to the second-tier Championship, England's Rugby Football Union confirmed on Friday after the club was suspended for …

Rugby • 28 Oct 22

Clive Woodward branded Jones' comments 'insulting' and 'divisive'

Jones rebuked by RFU over private school comments

Eddie Jones has been rebuked by the Rugby Football Union for criticising the English game's reliance on the private school system.

Rugby • 09 Aug 22

RFU president Jeff Blackett said the decision was

RFU bans transgender players from women's game

England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) voted in favour of restricting transgender participation in the domestic game, with the governing body recommending that only players recorded …

Rugby • 29 Jul 22

Royal Mail have issued commemorative rugby stamps

Irish rugby stars honoured on British stamps

Irish rugby internationals Simon Geoghegan and Sophie Spence have been included in a new set of stamps from Royal Mail to celebrate the 150th anniversaries …

Rugby • 05 Oct 21

RFU ditches 'Saxons' name in interests of diversity

England's 'A' team will no longer be known as the 'Saxons' after the Rugby Football Union decided the name is inappropriate.

Rugby • 11 May 21

Eddie Jones' England finished fifth from six in this year's competition

Eddie Jones retains support of RFU despite poor results

England head coach Eddie Jones retains the "full support" of the Rugby Football Union following completion of its debrief into the recent Six Nations.

Rugby • 20 Apr 21

An external consultation period on the policy will run until 5pm on Friday, 16 April.

RFU propose risk assessment for transgender players

Transgender women must be risk-assessed in order to compete in the women's game in England if they are over a certain height or weight, according …

Rugby • 31 Mar 21

For the eighth consecutive season, concussion was the most commonly reported match injury.

Concussion levels at an all-time high in English rugby

The severity of concussion in English rugby is at an all-time high, according to the latest figures published by their national governing body.

Rugby • 23 Dec 20

The RFU said the players will answer for individual breaches of the protocols

Thirteen Baa-Baas players to face disciplinary hearing

Thirteen Barbarians players will face a disciplinary hearing for breaches of coronavirus protocols that forced the cancellation of their match against England last Sunday.

Rugby • 30 Oct 20

Ireland were beaten at Twickenham in the spring

England players to see match fee reduced over Covid-19

England's ruby stars will be paid a reduced match fee of £17,250 (€19,340) from this autumn as part of a new arrangement with the Rugby …

Rugby • 30 Aug 20

Rugby Union could become a summer sport - RFU chief

RFU chief Bill Sweeney has pointed to the success of rugby league to show that union could work as a summer sport.

Rugby • 06 Jun 20

' I believe this proposed special event could generate a net profit for distribution to unions of £200-250m'

Ex-RFU chief calls for global tournament to raise funds

Former Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron believes a 'Coronavirus Cup of World Rugby' next summer could significantly ease the economic hardship facing the …

Rugby • 26 May 20

The Brumbies and Waratahs will continue to compete behind closed doors

World Rugby postpones and cancels more events

World Rugby has postponed several tournaments and World Cup qualifiers due to the coronavirus outbreak, while June's Olympic qualifiers are under review.

Rugby • 20 Mar 20

The England coach said that his side were playing against 16 in the Wales game

RFU apologises to referee over Eddie Jones' comment

The English Rugby Football Union has apologised to referee Ben O'Keeffe for comments made by England head coach Eddie Jones after the Guinness Six Nations …

Six Nations • 12 Mar 20

Conor O'Shea resigned from his role of head coach with Italy earlier this month

O'Shea joins RFU as director of performance rugby

Conor O'Shea will join the Rugby Football Union as director of performance rugby next year, the governing body has announced.

Rugby • 29 Nov 19

Jim Mallinder had been working with the English RFU on youth development, but has now accepted a role north of the border.

Mallinder leaves England position to take up Scots role

Jim Mallinder will join the Scottish Rugby Union as its new performance director.

Rugby • 23 Aug 19

RFU end tackle trial due to concussion rise - reports

The Rugby Football Union [RFU] have ended a trial aimed at making the game safer by lowering the legal height of tackles after a study …

Rugby • 25 Jan 19

In total, 38% of all injuries were incurred during training with concussion the most frequent injury in full-contact sessions.

'Significant changes to the game may be needed'

English rugby's head of medicine admits the game may face "significant changes" in order to address an alarming rise in injury severity.

Rugby • 09 Jan 19

England trio the first to sign full-time pro contracts

England women's internationals Natasha Hunt, Emily Scarratt and Jess Breach signed full-time professional contracts for the 2019 season on Thursday, marking their transition to 15-a-side …

Rugby • 20 Dec 18

Lancaster on the training ground with Leinster

RFU refuse to rule out approach to recruit Lancaster

England are looking to strengthen their post-Rugby World Cup coaching ticket and may turn to their former head coach.

Rugby • 04 Dec 18

English RFU 'perplexed' by calendar reform ideas

English rugby bosses look set to oppose any attempt to tear up the game's newly-agreed global calendar at a meeting of the World Rugby Council …

Rugby • 26 Sep 18

Kyle Sinckler handed seven-week ban for gouging

Kyle Sinckler will miss England's autumn internationals against Argentina and Australia after being given a seven-week suspension for gouging.

Rugby • 03 Oct 17

Ulster's Stuart Olding struggles to his feet after picking up a suspected concussion in a Pro12 game

Premiership to use new sideline head injury tech

Doctors will use replay technology on the touchline to review real-time video footage of suspected head injuries in this season's English Aviva Premiership.

Rugby • 02 Sep 16

Lancaster, who signed a six-year deal in 2014, left his position as England head coach on Wednesday

Woodward: RFU boss doesn't know 'ruck from maul'

Clive Woodward has hit out at the Rugby Football Union for laying the blame with Stuart Lancaster for England's World Cup failure.

Rugby • 12 Nov 15

Fans banned after Owens abuse

The English Rugby Football Union has issued two-year Twickenham bans to two men accused of directing homophobic abuse at referee Nigel Owens, the governing body …

Rugby • 28 Nov 14