rugby – Page 17

Cory Hill to captain Wales in 1st test vs. Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Lock Cory Hill will captain Wales for the first time in the first of two tests against Argentina at San Juan on Saturday.

Slater out of Origin opener in another setback for Maroons

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Veteran fullback Billy Slater has been ruled out of the Queensland lineup in another setback for the team that has dominated the annual State of Origin series for the last decade.

Retallick joins NZ injury list ahead of 1st test vs France

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick has been ruled out of the first test against France on Saturday, increasing pressure on the All Blacks who face a steadily mounting injury toll.

Fiji close on world series title after winning London Sevens

LONDON (AP) Fiji moved to the brink of clinching the sevens rugby world series title after beating closest challenger South Africa 21-17 in the London final on Sunday.

Roosters move into sixth place in the National Rugby League

SYDNEY (AP) The Sydney Roosters overcame a late comeback attempt by the Wests Tigers for a 16-14 win, moving the Roosters into sixth place in the National Rugby League.

ACT Brumbies beat Tokyo-based Sunwolves 41-31 in Super Rugby

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Winger Henry Speight scored a pair of tries to lead the ACT Brumbies to an offensively entertaining 41-31 win Sunday over the Tokyo-based Sunwolves in a Super Rugby match.

Jordan Uelese out, Pete Samu in for Australia vs Ireland

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese sustained a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby win over the Blues and is out of the Australia side to play Ireland next Saturday in Brisbane.

Crusaders, Melbourne Rebels win in Super Rugby

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) The Christchurch-based Crusaders extended their winning streak to 10 games when they beat the Chiefs 34-20 Saturday to consolidate their place atop the Super Rugby table as the tournament breaks for a month for June internationals.

Ireland arrives for 3-test series without injured captain

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Ireland’s rugby team arrived in Australia on Saturday for a three-test series against the Wallabies without its captain Rory Best, who was ruled out of the tour with a hamstring injury.

Highlanders beat Hurricanes 30-14 in Super Rugby

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) The Wellington-based Hurricanes sustained another setback to their Super Rugby title hopes when they were beaten 30-14 on Friday by the Dunedin-based Hurricanes, their second consecutive loss to a New Zealand conference rival.

Springboks set to start with 7 new players in Wales test

JOHANNESBURG (AP) Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus will give at least seven players their test debut under stand-in captain Pieter-Steph du Toit in the game against Wales in Washington this weekend.

Romania, Spain appeal to World Rugby over RWC 2019 sanction

DUBLIN (AP) Romania and Spain have appealed against World Rugby’s decision to take points off them for fielding ineligible players in a qualifying competition for the 2019 World Cup, which cost them a place in next year’s tournament in Japan.

Record 11 newcomers in New South Wales team for State opener

SYDNEY (AP) Incoming coach Brad Fittler has taken drastic steps in an effort to reverse New South Wales’ losing history in the State of Origin rugby league, naming 11 newcomers in his squad for the series opener against Queensland on June 6.

Kolisi first black player to be appointed Springboks captain

JOHANNESBURG (AP) Siya Kolisi has become the first black player to be appointed captain of the South Africa rugby team.

Penrith takes over NRL lead with easy win over Dragons

SYDNEY (AP) The National Rugby League has a new competition leader for the first time this season after the Penrith Panthers outclassed St. George Illawarra 28-2, dropping the Dragons into second place.

Saracens beats Exeter 27-10, back as English rugby champion

LONDON (AP) Saracens became English rugby champion for the third time in four years by beating titleholder Exeter 27-10 at Twickenham on Saturday.

Chiefs beat Waratahs 39-27 in Super Rugby

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) The Hamilton-based Chiefs conceded two early tries but rallied to beat the New South Wales Waratahs 39-27 in Super Rugby Saturday, halting the new-found success of Australian teams against New Zealand rivals.

Crusaders beat Hurricanes 24-13 in Super Rugby

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) The Christchurch-based Crusaders enhanced their place atop the Super Rugby table on Friday with a 24-13 win over the Wellington-based Hurricanes in a match in which all three Barrett brothers placed their names on the score sheet.

Super Rugby player suspended for 6 weeks for midair kick

SYDNEY (AP) Highlanders player Tevita Nabura has been suspended for six weeks for a kung fu-style kick in midair to an opponent’s head in a Super Rugby match.

Sydney Sevens set to move west to former OIympic precinct

SYDNEY (AP) Next year’s Sydney tournament on the Seven World Series will move to a 24,000-seat stadium at the former 2000 Olympic precinct in western Sydney.

Scotland captain Barclay has op on ruptured Achilles tendon

LLANELLI, Wales (AP) Scotland captain John Barclay will not play rugby until at least the end of the year after surgery on a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

England rugby defense coach leaves for club job

LONDON (AP) One of the key assistants of England rugby coach Eddie Jones has left his job with the national team to take up a role at club level.

Dragons score late try, stay in 1st in National Rugby League

SYDNEY (AP) A 50-meter try from St. George Illawarra fullback Matt Dufty with 10 minutes remaining gave the Dragons a 25-18 win over the Canberra Raiders and a two-point first-place lead in Australia’s National Rugby League.

Sam Whitelock to lead All Blacks against France

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Lock Sam Whitelock will captain the All Blacks in the three-test series against France next month in the absence of Keiran Read who is recovering from back surgery.

Crusaders, Sunwolves win in Super Rugby

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) Defending champions the Crusaders retained their place atop the Super Rugby table with a 32-24 win over the luckless Blues on Saturday in a rain-soaked match at Eden Park.

Lam double as Hurricanes beat Reds 38-34 in Super Rugby

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Winger Ben Lam scored his 13th and 14th tries to close on the season record of 15 as the Hurricanes beat the Queensland Reds 38-34 in Super Rugby on Friday.

Lions aim to regain winning form in Super Rugby

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The Lions will attempt to end a three-match losing streak when they host the Brumbies during a crucial round of matches this weekend in Super Rugby’s South African conference.

Second British rugby player mysteriously dies in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) A second player from a British rugby club visiting Sri Lanka died on Tuesday, two days after being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties, police said.

Maroons star Cameron Smith quits weeks before Origin opener

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Cameron Smith has retired from representative rugby league, finishing a career that included 11 wins in the last 12 State of Origin series for Queensland and leading Australia to two World Cup titles.

St. George suffers 2nd loss in National Rugby League

SYDNEY (AP) St. George Illawarra suffered just their second loss of Australia’s National Rugby League season when they fell 24-10 to South Sydney on Sunday, but the Dragons retained their two point lead at the top of a compact table when their nearest rivals also lost.